Secretary of State Rubio spoke with China's Director of the CCP Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Trump’s foreign aid freeze “undermines American leadership and credibility around the world,” lawmakers tell Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Marco Rubio was born in Miami, Florida in 1971. Rubio is the son of Cuban immigrants who left Cuba in pursuit of the American Dream. His father worked as a banquet bartender, while his mother split time as a stay-at-home mom and hotel maid.

US diplomats have requested an urgent exemption for Ukraine-related programmes from a 90-day freeze on foreign aid and “stop work” orders issued by secretary of state Marco Rubio, according to documents seen by the Financial Times and people familiar with the matter.

The Trump administration has halted nearly all new foreign assistance funding, sparing only military aid to Israel and Egypt, along with emergency food programmes, according to an executive order issued this week. The move has sparked global criticism amid fears of dire consequences for humanitarian and health initiatives.

The US has halted foreign aid for several countries, including Ukraine, but exempted Israel and Turkey. Secretary of State Rubio's directive mandates this freeze, with exceptions for emergency food and military funding for allies.

House Democrats urged President Trump’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio to lift the foreign assistance freeze mandated by an executive order from earlier this week, cutting off most U.S-funded

U.S. State Department freezes foreign aid, except for emergency food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt.

New Secretary of State Marco Rubio told China's foreign minister on Friday that the U.S. would put the American people first and promote U.S. interests in its relationship with Beijing.

The administration of United States President Donald Trump has announced a freeze on almost all new funding for foreign assistance programmes, with exceptions for allies Israel and Egypt.

Trump's grasp on power tightens as first Cabinet pick Marco Rubio is unanimously confirmed by the Senate as secretary of state.