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, lawyer, and diplomat currently serving as the 72nd United States Secretary of State since 2025. He is a member of the Republican Party and also holds the roles of acting national security advisor and acting archivist of the United States.

Sections (5)

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

1956: Parents left Cuba

In October 2011, The Washington Post reported that Rubio's previous statements that his parents were forced to leave Cuba in 1959 (after Fidel Castro came to power) were falsehoods. His parents left Cuba in 1956.

1959: False statements about parents leaving Cuba

In October 2011, The Washington Post reported that Rubio's previous statements that his parents were forced to leave Cuba in 1959 (after Fidel Castro came to power) were falsehoods.

January 2005: Rubio's Personal Charges

In January 2005, Rubio made personal charges on his Republican Party of Florida American Express card.

October 2006: Rubio's Personal Charges

In October 2006, Rubio made personal charges on his Republican Party of Florida American Express card.

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: Media Raises Issues About Rubio's Credit Card Expenses

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

October 2011: Report on Family History

In October 2011, The Washington Post reported that Rubio's statements about his parents being forced to leave Cuba in 1959 were false. His parents left Cuba in 1956.

2012: Ethics Commission Clears Rubio of Wrongdoing

In 2012, the Florida Commission on Ethics cleared Rubio of wrongdoing in his use of the party-issued credit card, though they noted a "level of negligence".

2013: Rubio's support for immigration reform leads to decline in Tea Party support

Marco Rubio initially won his U.S. Senate seat with strong Tea Party backing, but his 2013 support for comprehensive immigration reform legislation led to a decline in their support for him.

November 2015: Rubio Releases Party Credit Card Statements

In November 2015, Rubio released his party credit card statements from January 2005 through October 2006, showing personal charges that he had reimbursed.

November 2015: Called for No Syrian Refugees after Paris Terrorist Attacks

In November 2015, following the Paris terrorist attacks, Rubio stated that the U.S. should not accept any more Syrian refugees due to the inability to conduct background checks.

February 2016: Rubio calls Trump a "con artist"

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

March 2016: Opposed Obama's Supreme Court Nomination

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

June 2016: Rubio reaffirms concerns about Trump having "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".

October 7, 2016: Rubio responds to the Donald Trump Access Hollywood controversy

Following the release of the Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape on October 7, 2016, Marco Rubio condemned Trump's comments as "vulgar, egregious & impossible to justify," but reaffirmed his support for Trump shortly thereafter. At the annual Calle Orange street festival in downtown Orlando, he was booed off a stage by a mostly Hispanic crowd over his support for Trump.

2016: Harshly Criticized Donald Trump

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

2016: Rubio backs Trump for President

Throughout 2016, Marco Rubio shifted his stance on Donald Trump. Initially critical, including calling Trump a "con artist" in February 2016 and expressing concern about handing him "the nuclear codes" in June 2016, Rubio later endorsed Trump after he became the presumptive GOP nominee and confirmed he would attend the Republican National Convention where he intended to release his pledged delegates to support Trump. He also defended his support by saying Trump would sign a repeal of the Affordable Care Act and replace the late Antonin Scalia with another conservative Supreme Court Justice. By May 29, 2016, Rubio expressed interest in playing a role in Trump's campaign and on June 6, 2016 he rebuked Trump's comments on Gonzalo P. Curiel, who Trump accused of being biased against him on the basis of his ethnicity, as "offensive". Rubio restarted his Senate reelection campaign on June 22, 2016.

February 2018: Defended Accepting NRA Contributions at CNN Town Hall

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).

March 2018: Defended Trump Administration's Decision to Add Citizenship Question to Census

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

2018: Reversed climate change position

In 2018, Rubio reversed his previous position on climate change, acknowledging that humans contribute to an increase in greenhouse gases and that sea levels are rising at a measurable rate.

2020: Sanctioned by Chinese Government

In 2020, the Chinese government sanctioned Marco Rubio twice, banning him from entering China.

2020: Defended Adding Citizenship Question to Census

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

January 23, 2025: Rubio freezes passport applications with 'X' sex markers

On January 23, 2025, Marco Rubio instructed the State Department staff to freeze any passport applications that requested "X" sex markers, as part of compliance with Executive Order 14168, which ended gender self-identification on passports. This action created confusion among applicants and those who already had passports with "X" sex markers.

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 exceptions, effective January 28, in accordance with President Trump's executive order. This action shut down many of USAID's humanitarian, development, and security programs worldwide, despite Rubio's previous support for USAID during his time in Congress.

February 2025: Rubio supports U.S. takeover of Gaza Strip

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

March 7, 2025: Rubio clashes with Elon Musk during White House cabinet meeting

On March 7, 2025, The New York Times reported that Marco Rubio 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 while he was the agency's administrator.

March 2025: Rubio bypasses 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 2025: Rubio announces increased scrutiny of visas for Chinese students

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