Once a rival in the 2016 Republican primaries, Marco Rubio has become a central figure in President Donald Trump’s administration. Currently serving as Secretary of State, Rubio has also been appointed as interim National Security Adviser following the reassignment of Mike Waltz to U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. In addition to these roles, Rubio oversees the U.S. Agency for International Development and serves as the national archivist. This accumulation of responsibilities highlights the significant trust President Trump places in him.
Rubio’s expanded portfolio comes at a time when the administration is addressing critical foreign policy challenges, including diplomatic tensions with Panama, Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations, and migration management. He has supported controversial measures such as revoking student visas for protest participants and implementing aggressive deportation policies. Despite concerns about the feasibility of managing multiple high-profile roles, Rubio’s aides assert that he is capable, supported by a strong team. President Trump has praised Rubio’s effectiveness, reinforcing his transformation from a political adversary to a trusted problem-solver.
A senior U.S. official said Rubio has built trust with Trump by carrying out whatever tasks Trump hands to him. “He’s done everything that Trump has asked him to do,” the official said, requesting anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue. “Why wouldn’t you trust him?”
NSC Spokesman Brian Hughes told Reuters that Rubio had implemented Trump’s America First agenda and was “well qualified” to oversee the council.
A U.S. official told Reuters that Trump is fine with maintaining the new arrangement – Rubio serving as both secretary of state and national security adviser – indefinitely. Earlier on Friday, Politico reported that Rubio is expected to hold the two roles for a minimum of six months.
‘HE GETS IT SOLVED’
Early on, Rubio was sent to Panama to put Trump’s promise to “take back” the Panama Canal in more diplomatic terms. In March, after an Oval Office blowup with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Trump dispatched Rubio to Saudi Arabia, where he helped bring his effort toward peace between Ukraine and Russia back on track.
Source: Reuters
