In the midst of a transition season marked by media speculation and controversial appointments, Rep. Justin Amash has a word of advice for president-elect Trump: Choose Rand Paul for secretary of state.

On Monday, Amash – who represents Michigan’s 3rd district in Congress – retweeted Paul’s pro-Trump op-ed along with a message: “Trump should pick @randpaul.”



In an op-ed for Rare, Rand Paul wrote, “Donald Trump should pick someone to be his secretary of state who will advocate for Donald Trump’s views on foreign policy.”

Mr. Trump and his advisors have been considering individuals for the position who do not always line up ideologically with the president-elect’s policies. One of the suggested names, former Massachusetts governor and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, attacked Trump’s character and fitness for the presidency earlier this year in a highly-publicized speech. Another speculated name has been Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who publicly disagreed with Trump on the Iraq War and other foreign policy matters.

Amash’s recommendation could signal a desire on the part of Republican lawmakers to see the president-elect surround himself with like-minded cabinet members. Rand Paul, one of Trump’s early opponents in the Republican primaries, is a strong libertarian on foreign affairs. Paul has consistently agreed with Trump’s assessment of the Iraq War as a disaster, and his negative view of nation building activities. Perhaps most significantly, the Kentucky senator has echoed Trump’s contentious claim that the policies of President Obama and Secretary Clinton in the Middle East led to the creation of ISIS.

The continuing speculation about who Trump will choose as secretary of state was temporarily put to a halt today as he announced the experienced and qualified Elaine Chao as secretary of transportation.

Traditionally, the position of secretary of state has been seen as the most coveted and prestigious role in the president’s cabinet. President Trump’s appointee will have to deal with, among other issues: newly aggressive balkanization in Europe, the spread of radical Islamic terrorism, globalization’s increasing effect on international trade policy, ramifications of the Syrian refugee crisis, and enforcement of any immigration policies from the new administration.

Amash thinks Paul is the right man for the job. “Sending our brave men and women into harm’s way demands careful consideration,” Amash said in 2011 when introducing a bill that would require United States military strikes in Libya to first garner congressional approval. Paul’s critics have often pegged him as a naïve isolationist – for similar positions and comments.

“Pick a secretary of state who will put America first,” Paul cautioned in his opinion piece. While he remained neutral on his own ambitions for the role, former aide Brian Darling was among a growing contingent calling for his nomination.

Trump’s electoral win, as well as increased pro-Paul sentiment, could both betray a desire on the part of the American people to see America reduce its role as “policeman of the world.” Should Amash be successful in his calls for the Kentucky senator’s appointment, Paul would have to tread a fine line between limited international involvement and isolationist tendencies.