Career Timeline of Marco Rubio: Major Achievements and Milestones

1996: Worked on Dole's Presidential Campaign

In 1996, Marco Rubio worked on Republican senator Bob Dole's presidential campaign.

April 1998: Elected City Commissioner

In April 1998, two years after finishing law school, Marco Rubio was elected to a seat as city commissioner for West Miami.

December 14, 1999: Second in Republican primary

On December 14, 1999, Rubio placed second in the Republican primary.

January 2000: Took Seat in Legislature

In January 2000, Marco Rubio took his seat in the legislature in Tallahassee.

January 25, 2000: Won special election

On January 25, 2000, Rubio defeated Democrat Anastasia Garcia with 72% of the vote in a special election.

November 2000: Reelected unopposed

In November 2000, Rubio was reelected unopposed.

2000: Elected to Florida House of Representatives

In 2000, Marco Rubio was elected to represent the 111th district in the Florida House of Representatives.

2000: Appointed Majority Whip

Later in 2000, Mike Fasano promoted Rubio to be one of two majority whips.

September 2001: Fasano resigned

In September 2001, Mike Fasano resigned as majority leader of the House, and the speaker passed over Rubio to appoint a more experienced replacement for Fasano.

2001: Legislative Earmarks

In 2001, Rubio requested legislative earmarks totaling about $145 million.

2001: Plan to Reduce State Property Taxes to 2001 Levels

Rubio introduced a plan to reduce state property taxes to 2001 levels (and potentially eliminate them altogether), while increasing sales taxes by 1% to 2.5% to fund schools.

December 2002: Appointed House Majority Leader

In December 2002, Marco Rubio was appointed House majority leader by Speaker Johnnie Byrd.

2002: Legislative Earmarks

In 2002, Rubio requested legislative earmarks totaling about $145 million.

2002: Reelected unopposed

In 2002, Rubio was reelected to a second term unopposed.

2003: Support for the Invasion of Iraq

Rubio supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

2004: Reelected with 66% of the vote

In 2004, Rubio was reelected to a third term with 66% of the vote.

September 13, 2005: Became Speaker

On September 13, 2005, at age 34, Rubio became speaker after state representatives Dennis Baxley, Jeff Kottkamp, and Dennis A. Ross dropped out.

2005: Chosen as Future Speaker and "100 Innovative Ideas For Florida's Future" Book

In 2005, after being chosen as future speaker, Marco Rubio delivered a speech to the Florida House where he asked members to look in their desks, where they each found a hardcover book titled 100 Innovative Ideas For Florida's Future, which was blank. He told his colleagues that they would fill in the pages together with the help of ordinary Floridians.

November 2006: Elected Speaker of the Florida House

In November 2006, Marco Rubio was elected speaker of the Florida House.

November 2006: Sworn in as Speaker

In November 2006, Rubio was sworn in as speaker.

2006: Florida Enacted Limitations on Authority of State Government

In 2006, Florida enacted into law limitations upon the authority of the state government to take private property, in response to the 2005 Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. City of New London which took a broad view of governmental power to take private property under eminent domain. This state legislation had been proposed by a special committee chaired by Rubio prior to his speakership.

2006: Reelected unopposed

In 2006, Rubio was reelected to a fourth term unopposed.

2006: Published "100 Innovative Ideas For Florida's Future"

In 2006, after traveling around the state, talking with citizens, and compiling their ideas, Marco Rubio published the book "100 Innovative Ideas For Florida's Future". The National Journal called this book "the centerpiece of Rubio's early speakership".

January 2007: Clashed with Governor Charlie Crist

In January 2007, Jeb Bush was succeeded by Charlie Crist, and Rubio and Crist clashed frequently. Their sharpest clash involved the governor's initiative to expand casino gambling in Florida. Rubio sued Crist for bypassing the Florida Legislature in order to make a deal with the Seminole Tribe. The Supreme Court of Florida sided with Rubio and blocked the deal.

January 2007: Took Office as Speaker

In January 2007, as Marco Rubio took office as Speaker, Jeb Bush was completing his term as governor. Rubio hired 18 Bush aides, leading Capitol insiders to say the speaker's suite was "the governor's office in exile".

2007: Requested that the Legislature Apologize for Slavery

In 2007, Florida state senator Tony Hill (D-Jacksonville), chairman of the state legislature's Black Caucus, requested that the legislature apologize for slavery, and Rubio said the idea merited discussion.

November 2008: Left office as Speaker

Marco Rubio remained speaker until November 2008.

2008: Began Teaching at Florida International University (FIU)

After leaving the Florida Legislature in 2008, Marco Rubio began teaching under a fellowship appointment at Florida International University (FIU) as an adjunct professor.

2008: Jonathan D. Farrar in Havana

From 2008 to 2011, Jonathan D. Farrar was the Chief of Mission of the United States Interests Section in Havana.

2008: Supported Apology for Slavery

In 2008, Marco Rubio voiced his support for an apology for slavery, saying such apologies can be important albeit symbolic; he pointed out that even in 2008 young African-American males "believe that the American dream is not available to them".

2008: Rubio left the Florida legislature

In 2008, Rubio left the Florida legislature due to term limits, and began teaching at Florida International University.

May 5, 2009: Announced Candidacy for U.S. Senate

On May 5, 2009, Marco Rubio announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martínez.

April 28, 2010: Charlie Crist Ran Without a Party Affiliation

On April 28, 2010, Charlie Crist said he would run without a party affiliation, effectively ceding the Republican nomination to Marco Rubio.

November 2, 2010: Won the General Election

On November 2, 2010, Marco Rubio won the general election with 49% of the vote to Crist's 30% and Democrat Kendrick Meek's 20%.

2010: Report on Spending Requests

A 2010 report by the Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald said that some of Rubio's spending requests dovetailed with his personal interests.

2010: Elected to the U.S. Senate

In 2010, Marco Rubio was elected to the U.S. Senate.

2010: Senate Campaign and American Express Card Issues

In 2010, during Rubio's Senate campaign, issues were raised by the media and his political opponents about some items charged by Rubio to his Republican Party of Florida American Express card during his time as House speaker.

January 2011: Missed 8.3% of total votes until February 2015

From January 2011 to February 2015, Marco Rubio missed 8.3% of total votes, according to analysis by Vocativ as reported by Fox News.

March 2011: Supported U.S. Participation in Military Campaign in Libya

In March 2011, Marco Rubio supported U.S. participation in the military campaign in Libya to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

June 2011: Urged Passage of Authorization for Military Action in Libya

In June 2011, Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) joined Marco Rubio in writing an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal again urging passage of such authorization.

October 2011: Pushed for Continued Engagement in Libya

In October 2011, Marco Rubio joined several other senators in pushing for continued engagement to "help Libya lay the foundation for sustainable security".

2011: Influential Defender of Embargo Against Cuba

During his first year in office, 2011, Marco Rubio became an influential defender of the United States embargo against Cuba and induced the State Department to withdraw an ambassadorial nomination of Jonathan D. Farrar.

2011: Elected to the U.S. Senate

In 2011, Marco Rubio became a US Senator for Florida.

2011: Voted Against the Budget Control Act of 2011

In 2011, Marco Rubio voted against the Budget Control Act of 2011, which included mandatory automatic budget cuts from sequestration.

2011: Rejoined FIU Faculty

In 2011, after entering the U.S. Senate, Marco Rubio rejoined the Florida International University (FIU) faculty. He has taught undergraduate courses on Florida politics, political parties, and legislative politics.

2011: No Interest in Running for President or Vice President

Shortly after taking office in 2011, Marco Rubio said he had no interest in running for president or vice president in the 2012 presidential election.

March 2012: Endorsed Mitt Romney for President

In March 2012, Marco Rubio endorsed Mitt Romney for president, Rubio said that he did not expect to be or want to be selected as a vice presidential running mate, but was vetted for vice president by the Romney campaign.

2012: Voted Against the 2012 Fiscal Cliff Resolutions

In 2012, Marco Rubio voted against the 2012 "fiscal cliff" resolutions.

2012: Cleared of Wrongdoing by Florida Commission on Ethics

In 2012, the Florida Commission on Ethics cleared Marco Rubio of wrongdoing in his use of the party-issued credit card, although the commission inspector said that Rubio exhibited a "level of negligence" in not using his personal MasterCard.

April 2013: Voted against expansion of background checks for gun purchases

In April 2013, Marco Rubio voted against expanding background checks for gun purchases, arguing that increased regulatory measures wouldn't effectively capture criminals.

2013: Delivered Republican response to Obama's State of the Union Address

In 2013, Marco Rubio delivered the Republican response to President Obama's State of the Union Address, marking the first time the response was delivered in both English and Spanish. His stance on defense sequestration contrasted with fellow Republican Rand Paul's.

2013: Part of bipartisan "Gang of Eight" senators that crafted comprehensive immigration reform legislation

In 2013, Marco Rubio was part of the bipartisan "Gang of Eight" senators that crafted comprehensive immigration reform legislation, proposing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants contingent on strengthening border security. The bill passed the Senate, but Rubio later suggested the House should prioritize other issues like repealing Obamacare.

2013: Support for Immigration Reform Legislation

In 2013, Rubio's support for comprehensive immigration reform legislation led to a decline in support from the Tea Party.

2013: At the top alongside Kentucky senator Rand Paul in WMUR/University poll

Later in 2013, Marco Rubio at the top alongside Kentucky senator Rand Paul in a WMUR/University poll tracking New Hampshire's Republican primary voters' sentiment.

April 2014: Declared no reelection run if he runs for president in 2016

In April 2014, Marco Rubio said he would not run for reelection to the Senate if he ran for president in 2016 due to Florida law restrictions. Cesar Conda's departure as chief of staff was seen as preparation for a presidential run.

April 18, 2014: Dropped to 10th place in New Hampshire primary voters' sentiment

On April 18, 2014, Marco Rubio dropped to 10th place in a WMUR/University poll tracking New Hampshire's Republican primary voters' sentiment.

October 27, 2014: Voted in 74% of Senate votes until October 26, 2015

From October 27, 2014, to October 26, 2015, Marco Rubio voted in 74% of Senate votes, according to GovTrack.us.

November 2014: Pushed for elimination of "risk corridors" in the Affordable Care Act

In November 2014, following the Republican takeover of the U.S. Senate, Marco Rubio pushed for the elimination of the "risk corridors" used to compensate insurers under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). His efforts led to a provision in the 2014 federal budget preventing other funding sources from replenishing these corridors.

2014: Republicans Obtained Majority Control of Senate

After the 2014 midterm elections, the Republicans obtained majority control of the Senate, giving Marco Rubio and the Republicans vast federal influence during the final two years of Barack Obama's presidency, as well as during all four years of Donald Trump's presidency.

2014: Alberto Martinez Succeeded Cesar Conda as Chief of Staff

In 2014, Alberto Martinez succeeded Cesar Conda as Marco Rubio's chief of staff, but Cesar Conda remained as a part-time advisor.

January 2015: Began contacting top donors and appointing advisors for a potential 2016 run

In January 2015, Marco Rubio began contacting top donors and appointing advisors, including George Seay and Jim Rubright, for a potential 2016 presidential run.

January 2015: Placed second among potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates

In January 2015, Marco Rubio placed second among potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates in an online poll conducted by Zogby Analytics.

February 2015: Missed 8.3% of total votes since January 2011

From January 2011 to February 2015, Marco Rubio missed 8.3% of total votes, according to analysis by Vocativ as reported by Fox News.

March 2015: Proposed a tax plan with Senator Mike Lee

In March 2015, Marco Rubio, along with Senator Mike Lee, proposed a tax plan that would lower the corporate income tax rate, eliminate taxes on capital gains, dividends, and inherited estates, and create a new child tax credit. It also proposed replacing the welfare system with a consolidated system of benefits.

April 13, 2015: Launched his campaign for president in 2016

On April 13, 2015, Marco Rubio launched his campaign for president in 2016, pitching his candidacy as an effort to restore the American Dream.

April 2015: Presidential Run

In April 2015, Marco Rubio ran for president instead of seeking reelection to the Senate, pledging to either become president or return to private life.

October 26, 2015: Voted in 74% of Senate votes since October 27, 2014

From October 27, 2014, to October 26, 2015, Marco Rubio voted in 74% of Senate votes, according to GovTrack.us.

November 2015: Call to Halt Syrian Refugee Intake

In November 2015, after the Paris terrorist attacks, Rubio advocated for halting the intake of Syrian refugees into the U.S., citing the inability to conduct thorough background checks.

February 6, 2016: Criticized by Chris Christie for being "scripted"

During a nationally televised debate in New Hampshire on February 6, 2016, Marco Rubio was criticized by Chris Christie for sounding "scripted" and repetitious.

March 15, 2016: Suspended presidential campaign

On March 15, 2016, Marco Rubio suspended his presidential campaign after losing the Florida Republican primary to Donald Trump.

March 2016: Opposition to Merrick Garland's Supreme Court Nomination

In March 2016, Rubio opposed President Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court.

May 17, 2016: Supported Obama's request for emergency spending on the Zika virus

On May 17, 2016, Marco Rubio broke with the Republican majority in supporting President Obama's request for $2 billion in emergency spending on the Zika virus, acknowledging its importance due to the high number of cases in Florida at the time.

July 20, 2016: Rubio Endorses Trump

On July 20, 2016, Marco Rubio endorsed Donald Trump after Trump won the Republican Party's nomination.

2016: Harsh Criticism During Republican Primaries

During the Republican primaries in the 2016 presidential election, Rubio and Donald Trump harshly criticized each other.

2016: Advocated for utilizing all available information from captured terrorists

In 2016, Marco Rubio advocated for the U.S. to "find out everything they know" from captured terrorists, opposing the disclosure of interrogation techniques.

2016: Rubio backs Trump and attends Republican National Convention

In 2016, Marco Rubio backed Donald Trump for president due to his view that Trump was a better choice than Hillary Clinton. He confirmed he would attend the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, where he intended to release his pledged delegates to support Trump.

2016: Condemnation of Turkey's Crackdown on Dissent

In 2016, Rubio condemned Turkey's wide-ranging crackdown on dissent following a failed coup.

2016: Declared no reelection run if he runs for president in 2016

In April 2014, Marco Rubio said he would not run for reelection to the Senate if he ran for president in 2016 due to Florida law restrictions. Cesar Conda's departure as chief of staff was seen as preparation for a presidential run.

2016: Began contacting top donors and appointing advisors for a potential 2016 run

In January 2015, Marco Rubio began contacting top donors and appointing advisors, including George Seay and Jim Rubright, for a potential 2016 presidential run.

2016: Placed second among potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates

In January 2015, Marco Rubio placed second among potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates in an online poll conducted by Zogby Analytics.

2016: Candidate during Republican Party Primary Elections

Marco Rubio was a candidate during the 2016 Republican Party primary elections for president of the United States.

2016: Launched his campaign for president in 2016

On April 13, 2015, Marco Rubio launched his campaign for president in 2016, pitching his candidacy as an effort to restore the American Dream.

January 2017: Rubio to be a "private citizen"

In January 2017, Marco Rubio stated he would be a "private citizen", leading to media speculation about the termination of his political career. He ruled out runs for the vice-presidency, governorship of Florida and even reelection for his senate seat.

April 5, 2017: Commented on Bashar al-Assad's actions

On April 5, 2017, Marco Rubio commented that Bashar al-Assad felt he could act with "impunity" because the United States was not prioritizing his removal from office.

September 2017: Defended Trump's decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program

In September 2017, Marco Rubio defended President Trump's decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, calling the program "unconstitutional".

February 2018: Defense of Accepting NRA Contributions

At a February 2018 CNN town hall event after the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, Rubio defended his record of accepting contributions from the National Rifle Association (NRA), arguing that the NRA's influence comes from its millions of supporters.

March 2018: Defense of Adding Citizenship Question to 2020 Census

In March 2018, Rubio defended the Trump administration's decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census.

July 2018: Offering Amendment to Congressional Spending Bill on Real Estate Purchases

In July 2018, Rubio offered an amendment to a major congressional spending bill to potentially force companies that purchase real estate in cash to disclose their owners, in an attempt to root out criminals using illicit funds.

August 28, 2018: Call for Sanctions Against Chinese Officials for Human Rights Abuses

On August 28, 2018, Rubio and 16 other members of Congress urged the U.S. to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act against Chinese officials responsible for human rights abuses against the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang.

2018: Reversal on Climate Change Position

By 2018, Rubio reversed his position on climate change, stating that humans contribute to greenhouse gases and sea levels are rising at a measurable rate.

January 2019: Florida's Senior Senator

In January 2019, Marco Rubio became Florida's senior senator.

2019: Defended Trump's decision to host G7 summit at Trump National Doral Miami

In 2019, Marco Rubio defended President Trump's decision to host the 46th G7 summit at the Trump National Doral Miami, a resort owned by Trump, citing benefits for local businesses.

April 2020: Supreme Court Defeat on Obamacare

In April 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 8–1 to defeat Rubio's attempt to stop Obamacare.

July 13, 2020: Sanctioned by the Chinese government

On July 13, 2020, the Chinese government sanctioned Marco Rubio and three other U.S. politicians for "interfering in China's internal affairs" by condemning human rights abuses in Xinjiang. He responded humorously on Twitter.

August 10, 2020: Sanctioned again by the Chinese government

On August 10, 2020, Marco Rubio and 10 other Americans were sanctioned by the Chinese government for "behaving badly on Hong Kong-related issues".

September 2020: Support for Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court Nomination

In September 2020, Rubio supported Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

November 2020: Announced Run for Third Senate Term

In November 2020, Marco Rubio announced he would run for a third Senate term in the 2022 election.

November 23, 2020: Referred to Biden as president-elect

By November 23, 2020, Marco Rubio referred to Joe Biden as president-elect after initially defending Trump's right to challenge the election results.

2020: Democrats Regained Majority Control of the Senate

After the 2020 elections, the Democrats regained majority control of the Senate, and Republicans again reassumed minority status within the Senate.

2020: Sanctioned by China for Supporting Hong Kong's Democracy Movement

In 2020, China sanctioned Rubio and banned him from traveling to the country for his support for Hong Kong's democracy movement.

2020: Supported Judy Shelton's nomination to the Federal Reserve board of governors

In 2020, Marco Rubio supported Judy Shelton's nomination to the Federal Reserve board of governors, despite bipartisan criticism of her views on monetary policy.

2020: Joining the Climate Solutions Caucus

In 2020, Rubio joined the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus.

2020: Defense of Adding Citizenship Question to 2020 Census

In March 2018, Rubio defended the Trump administration's decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census. Experts noted that the inclusion of such a question would likely result in severe undercounting of the population and faulty data, as undocumented immigrants would be less likely to respond to the census.

January 2021: Sponsored the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

In January 2021, Marco Rubio sponsored the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

February 2021: Voted to acquit Trump for his role in inciting the mob to storm the Capitol

In February 2021, Marco Rubio voted to acquit Trump for his role in inciting the mob to storm the Capitol.

May 2021: Argued that "Wall Street must stop enabling Communist China"

In May 2021, Marco Rubio argued that "Wall Street must stop enabling Communist China", emphasizing the threat posed by the CCP to American workers and communities.

May 28, 2021: Voted against creating the January 6 commission

On May 28, 2021, Marco Rubio voted against creating the January 6 commission.

2021: Rubio's committee memberships in 2021

As of 2021, these were Marco Rubio's committee memberships.

February 2022: Condemnation of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

In February 2022, Rubio condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

2022: Denounced the Russian invasion of Ukraine

In 2022, Marco Rubio denounced the Russian invasion of Ukraine and co-sponsored a bill targeting pro-Russian separatist groups.

2022: Re-elected to Senate

In 2022, Marco Rubio was re-elected to a third term in the Senate, defeating Val Demings.

2022: Condemnation of Holding Winter Olympics in China

In 2022, Rubio condemned holding the 2022 Winter Olympics in China due to its "evil, genocidal regime", saying that he would "work to ensure that the Olympics are never hosted in the People's Republic of China again".

2022: Won the General Election

Marco Rubio won the November 8, 2022 general election for senator with 58% of the vote to Demings's 41%.

March 2023: Support for Revoking China's Permanent Normal Trade Relations Status

In March 2023, Rubio voiced support for revoking China's permanent normal trade relations status.

2023: Introduced 270 bills and resolutions in 2023 and 2024

In 2023, Marco Rubio introduced 270 bills and resolutions, including the Make America Active Again Act, Patriotic Investment Act, and the Preventing Antisemitic Harassment on Campus Act. This continued into 2024 making him the most prolific senator.

2023: Blaming Hamas for Palestinian Casualties

In 2023, Rubio said Hamas was "100 percent to blame" for Palestinian casualties in Gaza.

2023: NTU noted Rubio's past opposition to tariffs

In 2023, the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) noted Marco Rubio's past opposition to tariffs.

November 2024: Trump Chose Rubio as Secretary of State

In November 2024, Donald Trump chose Marco Rubio as United States Secretary of State in his second administration; Trump confirmed this on November 13. The nomination attracted little controversy and was praised by both Republicans and Democrats.

November 2024: Nominated to be Secretary of State

In November 2024, President-elect Trump announced his intention to nominate Marco Rubio to be secretary of state.

November 2024: Comments on Stalemate in Ukraine War

In November 2024, Rubio stated that the war in Ukraine had reached a "stalemate" and "needs to be brought to a conclusion" to avoid further casualties.

2024: Introduced 270 bills and resolutions in 2023 and 2024

In 2024, Marco Rubio introduced 270 bills and resolutions, including the Make America Active Again Act, Patriotic Investment Act, and the Preventing Antisemitic Harassment on Campus Act. This had started in 2023 making him the most prolific senator.

January 20, 2025: Rubio Nominated and Confirmed as Secretary of State

On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump formally nominated Marco Rubio as Secretary of State. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations unanimously approved his nomination and the Senate confirmed him a few hours later by a vote of 99 to 0.

January 21, 2025: Took office as Secretary of State

On January 21, 2025, Marco Rubio took office as Secretary of State.

January 24, 2025: Rubio Enacted Freeze on U.S. Foreign Aid

On January 24, 2025, Marco Rubio enacted an unprecedented freeze on all U.S. foreign aid for 90 days, effective January 28, in accordance with President Trump's executive order. This shut down many of USAID's programs worldwide.

February 6, 2025: ABC News Reported Rubio as Acting Archivist

On February 6, 2025, ABC News reported that Marco Rubio had been the acting archivist of the United States since Trump took office. This reporting was later questioned by 404 Media.

February 2025: Acting Archivist of the United States and Acting USAID Administrator

In February 2025, Marco Rubio also became the acting archivist of the United States and the acting USAID administrator.

February 2025: Shutdown of the Counter Foreign Information and Manipulation and Interference Office

In February 2025, Marco Rubio announced the shutdown of the State Department's Counter Foreign Information and Manipulation and Interference Office, criticizing it for wasting millions of dollars and engaging in censorship.

February 2025: Rubio Reached Agreement with El Salvador

In February 2025, Marco Rubio met with El Salvador president Nayib Bukele and reached an agreement for the country to take in deported foreign nationals who committed crimes, in addition to jailed U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

February 2025: Rubio Supported U.S. Taking Over Gaza Strip

In February 2025, Marco Rubio supported Trump's proposal that the U.S. take over the Gaza Strip, saying that the U.S. "stands ready to lead and Make Gaza Beautiful Again" and pursues a lasting peace in the region for all people.

February 16, 2025: Rubio Rejected Concerns About Ukraine Peace Negotiations

On February 16, 2025, Marco Rubio rejected concerns that Ukraine and Europe would be excluded from any future peace negotiations in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying that Donald Trump is the only leader in the world that could potentially begin that process.

March 7, 2025: Rubio Clashed with Elon Musk

On March 7, 2025, The New York Times reported that Marco Rubio had clashed with Elon Musk during a White House cabinet meeting. Musk criticized Rubio for not firing anyone in the State Department, and Rubio was angered by Musk's dismantling of USAID.

March 9, 2025: Rubio Condemned Massacres of Syrian Minorities

On March 9, 2025, Marco Rubio condemned the massacres of Syrian minorities committed by pro-government fighters during clashes in western Syria, stating that the United States stands with Syria's religious and ethnic minorities.

March 2025: Rubio Bypassed Congress to Send Arms to Israel

In March 2025, Marco Rubio bypassed Congress by issuing an emergency declaration to send Israel a $4 billion shipment of arms.

May 1, 2025: Appointed Acting National Security Advisor

On May 1, 2025, Marco Rubio was appointed acting national security advisor, while continuing to serve as secretary of state.

May 2025: Announcement of Visa Revocations and Increased Scrutiny for Chinese Students

In May 2025, Rubio announced that the U.S. government would aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, especially those with ties to the Chinese Communist Party or studying critical fields. He also stated the U.S. would increase scrutiny of all future visa applications from China and Hong Kong.

June 2025: Rubio announced sanctions on International Criminal Court judges

In June 2025, Marco Rubio announced sanctions on four International Criminal Court judges, for allegedly targeting the United States and Israel.

June 2025: Defense of U.S. Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites

In June 2025, Rubio defended the direct U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites known as Operation Midnight Hammer, which followed a previous wave of Israeli attacks.

June 2025: White House requested rescissions in foreign aid

In June 2025, the White House requested that Congress pass a package of rescissions, or "clawbacks", of approximately $8 billion in foreign aid and $1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The House passed the cuts as requested.

June 27, 2025: Hosting of Peace Agreement Between Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda

On June 27, 2025, Rubio hosted a peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, where Rwanda would withdraw soldiers from the eastern DRC, and both countries would launch a framework for economic integration within 90 days. President Trump announced deals with the West for minerals such as tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, and lithium.

August 2025: Acting USAID administrator term ended

In August 2025, Rubio's tenure as acting USAID administrator ended.

September 2025: Meeting with Mexican President and Foreign Affairs Secretary

In September 2025, Rubio met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Foreign Affairs Secretary Ramón de la Fuente, agreeing to continue close cooperation regarding drug smuggling from Mexico to the U.S. and gun smuggling from the U.S. to Mexico.

October 2025: Rubio and Lavrov Discussed Budapest Summit

In October 2025, Marco Rubio and Sergey Lavrov began holding discussions in preparation for the 2025 Budapest Summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

October 2025: Rubio Called Knesset Bill Counterproductive

In October 2025, after the Knesset passed a bill that would apply Israeli sovereignty to all West Bank settlements, Marco Rubio called the bill "counterproductive" to Trump's Gaza peace plan.

October 28, 2025: Hurricane Melissa Relief Efforts

On October 28, 2025, after Hurricane Melissa made landfall at Jamaica, Marco Rubio activated a disaster assistance response team. By October 31, three U.S. CH-47 Chinook helicopters were deployed to Jamaica to help with relief efforts.

November 2025: Call for International Action Regarding Weapons Flow to Rapid Support Forces

In November 2025, Rubio called for international action to halt the flow of weapons to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan's Darfur region. He asserted that the U.S. was aware of countries supplying the RSF and applying pressure to stop the flow.

2025: Term in the United States Senate

As a member of the Republican Party, he represented Florida in the United States Senate from 2011 to 2025

2025: Secretary of State

In 2025, Marco Rubio became the 72nd United States Secretary of State.

January 3, 2026: U.S. Airstrikes in Venezuela and Capture of Nicolás Maduro

On January 3, 2026, the U.S. launched airstrikes in Venezuela, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. CNN identified Rubio as a "driving force" behind the strategy, and President Trump indicated Rubio would be among the officials responsible for the power transition in Venezuela after Maduro's ouster.

January 2026: Support for Anti-Government Protests in Iran

In January 2026, Rubio expressed strong support for the anti-government protests in Iran.

February 4, 2026: Rubio Gave Up Role as Acting Archivist

On February 4, 2026, Marco Rubio gave up the role as acting archivist of the United States, 300 days after becoming acting archivist.

February 2026: Acting Archivist term ended

In February 2026, Rubio's tenure as acting archivist of the United States ended.

2026: Longest-serving Republican senator from Florida

As of 2026, Marco Rubio was the longest-serving Republican senator from Florida.

2026: Comments on the 2026 Iran War

During the 2026 Iran war, Rubio commented that the US government knew that Israel was planning to attack Iran and that the US did a preventive attack to avoid higher casualties. Rubio said the world will be a safer place when the military operation is completed. He said Iran's leadership is the problem, not its people, and that he hoped that the government would fall.