Challenges Faced by Marco Rubio: Obstacles and Turning Points

Life is full of challenges, and Marco Rubio faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Marco Rubio is an American politician, attorney, and diplomat who served as the 72nd United States Secretary of State since 2025. As a member of the Republican Party, he represented Florida in the United States Senate from 2011 to 2025. He was a candidate in the 2016 Republican presidential primary elections. During his time as Secretary of State, he has also held acting positions such as National Security Advisor, Archivist of the United States, and Administrator of USAID.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

2001: Tax Plan Introduced

Marco Rubio introduced a plan to reduce state property taxes to 2001 levels, while increasing sales taxes to fund schools. The proposal, introduced at an unspecified date, passed the House but faced opposition.

January 2005: Republican Party of Florida American Express Card Charges

Starting in January 2005, Marco Rubio made some personal charges on his Republican Party of Florida American Express card. These charges were later reimbursed.

October 2006: Republican Party of Florida American Express Card Charges

Through October 2006, Marco Rubio made some personal charges on his Republican Party of Florida American Express card. These charges were later reimbursed.

January 2007: Crist Took Office as Governor

In January 2007, Charlie Crist took office as Governor of Florida. Rubio and Crist clashed frequently, most notably over Crist's initiative to expand casino gambling in Florida.

2010: House Foreclosure

In 2010, a house Marco Rubio co-owned with David Rivera went into foreclosure after missed mortgage payments. Rubio assumed responsibility for the payments, and the house was eventually sold.

2010: Credit Card Issues Raised During Senate Campaign

In 2010, during Marco Rubio's Senate campaign, issues were raised about his use of a Republican Party of Florida American Express card during his time as House speaker.

2012: Ethics Commission Clears Rubio

In 2012, the Florida Commission on Ethics cleared Marco Rubio of wrongdoing in his use of the party-issued credit card, though noting negligence in not using his personal MasterCard.

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

In April 2013, Rubio voted against an expansion of background checks for gun purchases, arguing increased regulatory measures would do little to help capture criminals. He also voted against publishing the Senate Intelligence Committee report on CIA torture.

November 2014: Pushed for the elimination of the "risk corridors"

In November 2014, with Republicans taking control of the U.S. Senate, Rubio pushed for the elimination of the "risk corridors" used by the federal government to compensate insurers for their losses as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

November 2015: Credit Card Statements Released

In November 2015, Marco Rubio released his Republican Party of Florida American Express card statements from January 2005 through October 2006, showing personal charges that he had reimbursed.

November 2015: Rubio advocates for barring Syrian refugees after Paris attacks

In November 2015, after the Paris terrorist attacks, Marco Rubio said that, because background checks could not be done, the U.S. should accept no more Syrian refugees.

February 6, 2016: Criticized by Chris Christie for speaking repetitiously in a debate

During a nationally televised debate among Republican candidates in New Hampshire on February 6, 2016, Rubio was criticized by rival Chris Christie for speaking repetitiously, with Christie saying Rubio sounded "scripted".

February 2016: Rubio criticizes Trump during Republican primary campaign

In February 2016, during the Republican primary campaign, Marco Rubio criticized Donald Trump, calling him a "con artist" and saying that Trump is "wholly unprepared to be president of the United States".

March 15, 2016: Suspended Presidential Campaign

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

June 2016: Rubio reaffirms concerns about Trump having access to nuclear codes

In June 2016, after Donald Trump became the presumptive GOP nominee, Marco Rubio reaffirmed his February 2016 comments that we must not hand "the nuclear codes of the United States to an erratic individual".

July 20, 2016: Rubio endorses Trump

On July 20, 2016, after Donald Trump won the Republican Party's nomination, Marco Rubio endorsed him after previously criticizing him during the Republican primary campaign.

October 7, 2016: Rubio responds to Trump's Access Hollywood controversy

On October 7, 2016, following the Donald Trump Access Hollywood controversy, Marco Rubio wrote that "Donald's comments were vulgar, egregious & impossible to justify. No one should ever talk about any woman in those terms, even in private."

2016: Presidential Candidacy

In 2016, Marco Rubio was a candidate in the Republican Party primary elections for President of the United States.

February 2018: Rubio Defends NRA Contributions at CNN Town Hall

During a CNN town hall event in February 2018, following the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, Marco Rubio defended his record of accepting contributions from the National Rifle Association (NRA), stating that the influence of these groups comes from the millions of people who agree with their agenda, not from money.

August 28, 2018: Rubio Urges Sanctions Against Chinese Officials

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

April 2020: Rubio's Attempt to Stop Obamacare Defeated by Supreme Court

In April 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 8-1 to defeat Marco Rubio's attempt to stop the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

July 13, 2020: Chinese government sanctioned Rubio

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