Antony Blinken sworn in as 71st Secretary of State
Blinken had an administrative swearing-in by Vice President Kamala Harris as Secretary of State. The longtime Biden associate was approved by the Senate yesterday with a vote of 78-22.
“My career has come full circle,” Blinken wrote in a tweet Tuesday. “I started at the @StateDept in 1993, and, today, it’s the honor of my life to lead the Department’s women and men as the 71st Secretary of State.”
Blinken attended a welcome ceremony at the State Department this morning, and told his new colleagues that “it’s a new day for America; it’s a new day for the world.”
He is expected to deliver remarks to reporters in the press briefing room at the Department of State at 3:30 p.m. ET.
With Blinken’s confirmation, President Biden now has a number of key members of his national security team in place. In addition to national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who does not require Senate confirmation, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines was confirmed on Inauguration Day, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was confirmed last Friday.
