Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Marco Rubio

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Marco Rubio.

Marco Rubio is an American politician who served as a U.S. Senator for Florida from 2011 to 2025. He ran as a candidate in the 2016 Republican presidential primaries. Currently, he is the 72nd United States Secretary of State since 2025. During his time as secretary, he has also been the acting administrator of USAID and acting archivist of the United States. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Sections (5)

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

1956: Rubio's parents left Cuba.

In 1956, Marco Rubio's parents left Cuba during the Batista regime, which contradicts Rubio's previous statements that they left in 1959 after Fidel Castro came to power.

1959: Rubio's previous statements about family history.

In 1959, according to The Washington Post, Rubio had previously stated that his parents were forced to leave Cuba after Fidel Castro came to power, which was a falsehood.

January 2005: Rubio's Republican Party Credit Card Statements

In January 2005, Rubio's Republican Party credit card statements showed personal charges totaling $7,243.74, all of which he had personally reimbursed, in most instances by the next billing period.

2005: Supreme Court Decision in Kelo v. City of New London

In 2005, the Supreme Court made a decision in Kelo v. City of New London, taking a broad view of governmental power to take private property under eminent domain.

October 2006: Rubio's Republican Party Credit Card Statements

In October 2006, Rubio's Republican Party credit card statements showed personal charges totaling $7,243.74, all of which he had personally reimbursed, in most instances by the next billing period.

January 2007: Charlie Crist Takes Office and Clashes with Rubio

In January 2007, Charlie Crist succeeded Jeb Bush as governor of Florida. Rubio and Crist clashed frequently, especially over Crist's initiative to expand casino gambling in Florida. Rubio sued Crist for bypassing the Florida Legislature, and the Florida Supreme Court sided with Rubio, blocking the deal.

2010: Report on Spending Requests

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

2010: Issues Raised About Rubio's American Express Card Charges

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

October 2011: Report on Rubio's Family History

In October 2011, The Washington Post reported that Marco Rubio's previous statements about his parents leaving Cuba in 1959 were false, as they left in 1956 during the Batista regime. Rubio denied embellishing his family history.

2012: Florida Commission on Ethics Clears Rubio

In 2012, the Florida Commission on Ethics cleared 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.

November 2015: Rubio Releases Party Credit Card Statements

In November 2015, during his presidential campaign, Rubio released his party credit card statements from January 2005 through October 2006, showing personal charges totaling $7,243.74, which he had reimbursed.

February 2016: Rubio Criticizes Trump

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

March 2016: Rubio Opposed Obama's Supreme Court Nomination

In March 2016, Marco Rubio opposed President Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, stating that a nominee should not be considered in the last year of a president's term.

June 2016: Rubio Reaffirms Criticism of Trump

In June 2016, after Donald Trump became the presumptive GOP nominee, Marco Rubio reaffirmed his February 2016 comments, stating 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.

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." He reaffirmed his support of Trump shortly thereafter.

2016: Rubio and Trump's Contentious Relationship During 2016 Primaries

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

February 2018: Rubio Defends NRA Contributions

At a February 2018 CNN town hall event in the wake of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, Marco Rubio defended his record of accepting contributions from the National Rifle Association (NRA), attributing influence to agreement with the NRA's agenda, not money.

March 2018: Rubio Defends Adding Citizenship Question to Census

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

2020: Sanctioned by Chinese Government

In 2020, the Chinese government sanctioned Marco Rubio twice, banning him from entering China, due to his hawkish stance on China and the Chinese Communist Party.

2020: Citizenship Question in Census

In March 2018, Rubio defended the addition of the citizenship question in the 2020 census.

October 2023: Rubio Condemned Hamas's attack on Israel

In October 2023, Marco Rubio condemned Hamas's attack on Israel, expressed support for Israel's right to self-defense, and called for the eradication of Hamas in Gaza.

January 22, 2025: Rubio Freezes Passport Applications with 'X' Sex Markers

On January 22, 2025, Marco Rubio instructed State Department staff to freeze passport applications that requested "X" sex markers, in compliance with Executive Order 14168. This move created widespread confusion.

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

On January 24, 2025, Marco Rubio enacted a 90-day freeze on all U.S. foreign aid, with some exceptions, effective January 28, following President Trump's executive order. This action shut down many of USAID's programs worldwide.

March 7, 2025: Rubio Clashes with Elon Musk

On March 7, 2025, it was 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.