Eastern.

President-Elect Donald Trump is still several days from re-entering the oval office, but some of his nominees for cabinet posts were in senate committees for one of the busiest days of confirmation hearings in U.S. History.

From the nation's top diplomatic post, to a top spy, to the country's top law enforcement officer, the hearings ran the gamut from cordial to confrontational.

Amna: We start with President-Elect trump's picks for secretary of state and director of the CIA.

Florida senator Marco Rubio would helm the state department, and former congressman John Ratcliffe would run the CIA.

They went before senators on the foreign relations and intelligence committees this morning.

>> I get bilingual protesters.

It's pretty cool.

>> As you know, that is a first year perk.

Reporter: President-Elect Donald Trump's choice for U.S. Secretary of state, senator Marco Rubio, sailed relatively smoothly through his nomination hearing before the foreign relations committee on which he served for 14 years.

>> You are welcome to the other side of the dais.

>> Born to immigrant parents from Cuba, he would be the first person of hispanic origin to serve as the top U.S.

Diplomat.

>> Have the privilege to be born a citizen of the greatest nation of mankind and to be raised in a safe and stable home.

Reporter: And home, he promised, would be the focus, a robust, America first foreign policy.

>> President trump returns to office with an unmistakable mandate from the voters.

They want a strong America.

A strong America engaged in the world, but guided by a clear objective to promote peace abroad and security and prosperity here at home.

Reporter: In the past, trump and will be have class.

Over time, they found common ground.

A past supporter of aid for Ukraine.

Rubio voted against last year's supplemental, saying it didn't do enough on southern border security.

Democrat and ranking committee member senator Jeanne Shaheen asked him about that shift.

>> Can you talk about how your views on Ukraine have developed and where you are now?

>> Once this war became what we now know it is, and that is a war of attrition, a stalemate, a protracted conflict, the dynamic on that situation has changed.

Reporter: The Biden administration has sent Ukraine more than $60 billion in military aid, vowing to continue that support "As long as it takes."

Rubio said that has to change.

>> That is not a realistic approach or position.

I think it should be the the official position of the united States that this war should be brought to an end.

Reporter: Rubio also said sanctions on Russia could expand, and that Ukraine could get a long-term security guarantee, but did not pledge continued weapons support from the U.S.

Under a new trump administration.

Mid hearing, major news in the Middle East.

Rubio reaffirmed their top priority with this deal and going forward is bringing back hostages, when asked by Republican senator Dave Mccormic of Pennsylvania.

>> Do you agree that a permanent ceasefire in gaza must include absolute must include the release of those hostages?

>> Hamas has been severely degraded, but these people that include a number of American citizens need to be home as soon as possible.

Reporter: But it was China, where Rubio has long pressed the U.S. To take a stronger stance, that he insisted remains America's most potent adversary.

>> If we stay on the road we're on right now, less than ten - - in less than 10 years, life will depend on whether China will allow us to have it or not.

Reporter: Also today trump's pick for the director of the central intelligence agency John Ratcliffe faced questions from the senate intelligence committee.

Democrat mark Warner of Virginia asked about the potential for political retribution.

>> What assurances can you provide to this committee and to the CIA workforce that you will resist efforts to fire or force out career CIA employees because of their perceived political views, or somehow their views of loyalty to the president?

>> Well, I think the best example of that, Mr. Vice chairman, is, if you look at my record and my record as dni, that never took place, that, is - - that is never something anyone as alleged, and it's something that I would never do.

Reporter: Ratcliffe himself has been accused of releasing unverified Russian intelligence in a letter to a senator on the day of the 2020 presidential debate while he served as director of national intelligence.

Democratic senator John ossof of Georgia.

>> My purpose here is not to suggest some kind of, political intent, but you've made it very clear that avoiding the politicization of the intelligence community's activities is a high priority for you.

Is that correct?

>> Correct.

>> It strikes me that releasing politically sensitive intelligence, that you'd think carefully about the timing of that.

>> You are correct.

It was it was my decision, but it wasn't my process.

Reporter: Both Ratcliffe and Rubio are expected to be confirmed and start in their roles next week, leading the next chapter of American