Full History Of Marco Rubio In Timeline From 1956

1956: Grandfather Immigrated to U.S.

In 1956, Marco Rubio's maternal grandfather, Pedro Victor Garcia, legally immigrated to the U.S. but returned to Cuba to find work in 1959.

1956: Rubio's Parents Immigrated to the U.S.

In 1956, Marco Rubio's parents immigrated to the United States from Cuba during the regime of Fulgencio Batista.

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: Grandfather Returned to Cuba

In 1959, Marco Rubio's maternal grandfather, Pedro Victor Garcia, returned to Cuba to find work after legally immigrating to the U.S. in 1956.

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.

1961: Rubio's mother took siblings back to Cuba

In 1961, Marco Rubio's mother took his two elder siblings back to Cuba with the intention of living there permanently, but the nation's move toward communism caused the family to change its plans.

1961: Rubio's Mother Returned to Cuba

In 1961, Rubio's mother took his two elder siblings back to Cuba with the intention of living there permanently, but the nation's move toward communism caused the family to change its plans.

1962: Grandfather Fled Cuba and Detained

In 1962, Marco Rubio's maternal grandfather fled communist Cuba and returned to the U.S. without a visa, and was detained as an undocumented immigrant.

1966: Grandfather Re-applied for Residency

In 1966, Marco Rubio's maternal grandfather re-applied for permanent resident status following passage of the Cuban Adjustment Act, at which point his residency was approved.

May 27, 1971: Marco Rubio Born

On May 27, 1971, Marco Antonio Rubio was born. He is an American politician who has served as the 72nd United States secretary of state since 2025.

1971: Marco Rubio's Birth

In 1971, Marco Antonio Rubio was born in Miami, Florida, to Cuban parents who had immigrated to the United States in 1956.

1975: Rubio's Parents Naturalized as U.S. Citizens

In 1975, Rubio's parents, who were not U.S. citizens at the time of his birth in 1971, were naturalized as U.S. citizens after applying for citizenship.

1984: First Communion

In 1984, Marco Rubio received his first communion as a Catholic before moving with his family back to Miami a year later.

1989: Graduated High School

In 1989, Marco Rubio graduated from South Miami Senior High School.

1993: Earned Bachelor's Degree

In 1993, Marco Rubio earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Florida.

1996: Earned Juris Doctor

In 1996, Marco Rubio earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law.

1996: Worked on Dole's Presidential Campaign

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

April 1998: Elected City Commissioner

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

1998: Rubio Married Jeanette Dousdebes

In 1998, Marco Rubio married Jeanette Dousdebes, a former bank teller and Miami Dolphins cheerleader, in a Catholic church ceremony. They have four children.

December 14, 1999: Placed Second in Republican Primary

On December 14, 1999, Marco Rubio placed second in the Republican primary for the 111th House District in Florida.

1999: Special Election for Florida House Seat

In late 1999, a special election was called to fill the seat for the 111th House District in the Florida House of Representatives. Marco Rubio campaigned as a moderate.

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, Marco Rubio defeated Democrat Anastasia Garcia with 72% of the vote in a special election for the 111th House District.

November 2000: Re-elected Unopposed

In November 2000, Marco Rubio was re-elected unopposed to the Florida House of Representatives.

2000: Elected to Florida House of Representatives

In 2000, Marco Rubio was elected to represent the 111th district in the Florida House of Representatives after serving as a city commissioner for West Miami in the 1990s.

2000: Elected to Florida House

In early 2000, Marco Rubio was elected to the Florida House of Representatives.

2000: Promoted to Majority Whip

Later in 2000, Marco Rubio was promoted to be one of two majority whips in the Florida House of Representatives.

September 2001: Fasano Resigned

In September 2001, Mike Fasano resigned as majority leader of the House due to disagreements with the House speaker. Marco Rubio volunteered to work on redistricting.

2001: Requested Legislative Earmarks

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

December 2002: Appointed House Majority Leader

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

2002: Requested Legislative Earmarks

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

2002: Re-elected Unopposed

In 2002, Marco Rubio was re-elected unopposed to a second term in the Florida House of Representatives.

2003: Rubio Supported the Invasion of Iraq

In 2003, Marco Rubio supported the invasion of Iraq.

2004: Re-elected to Third Term

In 2004, Marco Rubio was re-elected to a third term in the Florida House of Representatives with 66% of the vote.

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.

September 13, 2005: Became Speaker

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

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.

2005: Speech to Florida House

In 2005, when chosen as future speaker, Marco Rubio delivered a speech to the Florida House, asking members to fill in a blank book titled "100 Innovative Ideas For Florida's Future" with the help of ordinary Floridians.

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.

November 2006: Elected Speaker of the Florida House

In November 2006, Marco Rubio was elected speaker of the Florida House, serving for two years.

November 2006: Sworn in as Speaker

In November 2006, Marco Rubio was sworn in as speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. He was the first Cuban American to hold the position.

2006: Florida Enacts Law Limiting State Government Authority

In 2006, Florida enacted a law limiting the state government's authority to take private property, following the 2005 Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. City of New London. This legislation was proposed by a special committee chaired by Rubio before he became speaker.

2006: Published Book

In 2006, Marco Rubio published the book "100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future" after traveling around the state and compiling ideas from citizens.

2006: Re-elected to Fourth Term

In 2006, Marco Rubio was re-elected unopposed to a fourth term in the Florida House of Representatives.

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.

January 2007: End of Jeb Bush's term as governor

In January 2007, Jeb Bush completed his term as governor, and Marco Rubio, as Speaker, hired 18 of Bush's aides. Capitol insiders noted the speaker's suite felt like "the governor's office in exile."

2007: Request for Legislative Apology for Slavery

In 2007, Florida state senator Tony Hill requested that the legislature apologize for slavery, and Rubio supported discussing the idea.

2007: Comparison of Senate voting records

In 2007, John McCain missed a much higher percentage of votes than Rubio, but it was the worst of the three senators who campaigned for the presidency in 2015.

November 2008: End of Speakership

Marco Rubio's term as speaker of the Florida House of Representatives ended in November 2008.

2008: Jonathan D. Farrar's service as Chief of Mission of the United States Interests Section in Havana.

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

2008: Leaves Florida Legislature

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

2008: Rubio Supports Apology for Slavery

In 2008, Rubio supported the idea of an apology for slavery, emphasizing the importance of symbolic gestures and addressing the belief among young African-American males that the American dream was not available to them.

2008: Rubio Began Teaching at FIU

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

2008: Mitt Romney's campaign work

In January 2015, it was reported that Rubio had begun contacting top donors and appointing advisors for a potential 2016 run, including George Seay, who previously worked on such campaigns as Mitt Romney's in 2008.

May 5, 2009: Rubio Announces Senate Run

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

April 28, 2010: Crist runs without party affiliation

On April 28, 2010, Charlie Crist announced that he would run for Senate without a party affiliation, ceding the Republican nomination to Rubio.

November 2, 2010: Rubio Wins U.S. Senate Election

On November 2, 2010, Rubio won the general election for the U.S. Senate with 49% of the vote.

2010: Elected to U.S. Senate

In 2010, Marco Rubio was elected to the U.S. Senate in a three-way race.

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.

January 2011: Voting record analysis

From January 2011 to February 2015, Rubio missed 8.3% of total votes, according to analysis by Vocativ.

March 2011: Rubio Supports U.S. Participation in Military Campaign in Libya

In March 2011, Rubio supported U.S. participation in the military campaign in Libya to oust Muammar Gaddafi and urged Senate leaders to bring a bipartisan resolution to the Senate floor authorizing the president's decision.

June 2011: Rubio Urges Congressional Authorization for Libya Military Action

In June 2011, Senator Joe Lieberman joined Rubio in writing an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal, urging passage of congressional authorization for military action in Libya.

October 2011: Rubio Pushes for Continued Engagement in Libya

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

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.

2011: Elected to the U.S. Senate

In 2011, Marco Rubio began representing Florida in the United States Senate, a position he held until 2025.

2011: Rubio Defends Embargo Against Cuba and Rescues Nancy Reagan

In 2011, Rubio became an influential defender of the United States embargo against Cuba and induced the State Department to withdraw an ambassadorial nomination. Also in 2011, Rubio visited the Reagan Library, praised its namesake, and rescued Nancy Reagan from falling.

2011: Rubio Votes Against Budget Control Act of 2011

In 2011, Rubio voted against the Budget Control Act of 2011, which included mandatory automatic budget cuts from sequestration, calling the policy a "terrible idea".

2011: Rubio Rejoined FIU Faculty

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

2011: Cesar Conda as chief of staff

In April 2014, the departure of Cesar Conda, Rubio's chief of staff since 2011, was seen as a sign of Rubio's plans to run for president in 2016.

2011: Rubio Declares No Interest in Running for President or Vice President

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

March 2012: Rubio Endorses Mitt Romney for President

In March 2012, Rubio endorsed Mitt Romney for president and stated he did not expect to be selected as a vice presidential running mate, though he was vetted by the Romney campaign.

2012: Paid off Student Loans

In 2012, Marco Rubio paid off $100,000 in student loans that he had incurred.

2012: Rubio Votes Against 'Fiscal Cliff' Resolutions

In 2012, Rubio voted against the "fiscal cliff" resolutions, arguing it would force small businesses to fire employees and cut back hours and benefits.

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.

2012: Rick Perry's campaign work

In January 2015, it was reported that Rubio had begun contacting top donors and appointing advisors for a potential 2016 run, including George Seay, who previously worked on such campaigns as Rick Perry's in 2012.

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

In April 2013, Marco Rubio voted against an expansion of background checks for gun purchases, arguing that increased regulatory measures would not effectively capture criminals.

2013: Rubio's Conservative Ranking

According to the National Journal, in 2013 Rubio was the 17th most conservative senator.

2013: Rubio Delivers Republican Response to State of the Union

In 2013, 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.

2013: Rubio Involved in 'Gang of Eight' Immigration Reform

In 2013, Rubio was part of the bipartisan "Gang of Eight" senators that crafted comprehensive immigration reform legislation, proposing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants after strengthening border security.

2013: Rubio's Support for Immigration Reform Leads to Decline in Tea Party Support

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

2013: Sentiment tracking

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

April 2014: Stated he would not run for reelection to the Senate if he ran for president in 2016

In April 2014, Marco Rubio stated that he would not run for reelection to the Senate if he ran for president in 2016, due to Florida law.

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: Senate Voting Record

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

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

In November 2014, following the Republican takeover of the U.S. Senate, Marco Rubio advocated for the elimination of the 'risk corridors' within the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), which were designed to compensate insurers for losses. His efforts led to a provision in the 2014 federal budget that restricted the use of other funding sources to replenish these risk corridors.

2014: Republicans Obtain Senate Majority

After the 2014 midterm elections, the Republicans obtained majority control of the Senate.

2014: Alberto Martinez Succeeds Cesar Conda

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

2014: Joined Broad and Cassel

In 2014, Marco Rubio took a position with Broad and Cassel, a Miami law and lobbying firm, after working at a law firm that specialized in land use and zoning.

2014: Rubio's Conservative Ranking

In 2014, the Club for Growth gave Rubio ratings of 93 percent based on his voting record.

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

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

January 2015: Placed second in an online poll of 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: Voting record analysis

From January 2011 to February 2015, Rubio missed 8.3% of total votes, according to analysis by Vocativ.

March 2015: Proposed a Tax Plan with Senator Mike Lee

In March 2015, Marco Rubio and Senator Mike Lee proposed a tax plan that included lowering the top corporate income tax rate to 25%, eliminating taxes on capital gains, dividends, and inherited estates, creating a new child tax credit, setting the top individual income tax rate at 35%, and replacing the means-tested welfare system with a new 'consolidated system of benefits'.

April 13, 2015: Launched 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 for middle and working-class families.

April 2015: Launched Presidential Bid

In April 2015, Marco Rubio launched a presidential bid instead of seeking reelection to the Senate.

April 2015: Rubio Decides to Run for President

In April 2015, Rubio decided to run for president instead of seeking reelection to the Senate.

October 26, 2015: Senate Voting Record

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

November 2015: Rubio's Stance on Syrian Refugees

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.

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.

2015: Rubio's Conservative Union Rating

As of early 2015, Marco Rubio had a rating of 98.67 by the American Conservative Union, based on his lifetime voting record in the Senate.

February 6, 2016: Criticized by Chris Christie for speaking repetitively

During a nationally televised debate among Republican candidates in New Hampshire on February 6, 2016, Chris Christie criticized Marco Rubio for speaking repetitively, stating Rubio sounded 'scripted'.

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 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, and then ran for reelection to the Senate and won a second term.

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.

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

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

June 13, 2016: Rubio hints at Senate Re-election Run

On June 13, 2016, after the Orlando nightclub shooting, Rubio "seemed to open the door to running for reelection" to the Senate.

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.

August 30, 2016: Rubio Wins Republican Primary

On August 30, 2016, Rubio won the Republican primary for his Senate seat, defeating Carlos Beruff.

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.

2016: Rubio Condemns Turkey's Crackdown on Dissent

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

2016: Advocated for gathering information from captured terrorists

In 2016, Marco Rubio stated that the U.S. should extract all possible information from captured terrorists and avoid disclosing interrogation techniques to the enemy.

2016: Presidential Candidate

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

2016: Potential 2016 run

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

2016: Backed Trump due to better choice than Hillary Clinton

In May 2016, Rubio stated that he was backing Trump due to his view that the presumptive nominee was a better choice than Hillary Clinton for the presidency and that as president, Trump would sign a repeal of the Affordable Care Act and replace the late Antonin Scalia with another conservative Supreme Court Justice.

January 2017: Expected to become a "private citizen"

On March 17, 2016, after suspending his presidential campaign, Rubio said only that he would be a "private citizen" by January 2017, leading to some media speculation of the termination of his political career.

April 5, 2017: Accused Bashar al-Assad of acting with "impunity"

On April 5, 2017, Marco Rubio stated 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 DACA

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

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.

July 2018: Rubio Offers Amendment on Real Estate Purchases

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

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 responsible for human rights abuses against the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang.

2018: Rubio Rejects Bipartisan Immigration Reform Efforts

In 2018, Marco Rubio developed more hardline views on immigration, rejecting bipartisan immigration reform efforts.

January 2019: Became Florida's Senior Senator

In January 2019, Marco Rubio became Florida's senior senator following the defeat of former senator Bill Nelson.

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, stating it would be beneficial for local businesses.

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

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: Sanctioned by Chinese government for condemning human rights abuses

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. Rubio responded with a tweet.

August 10, 2020: Sanctioned by Chinese government for behavior on Hong Kong issues

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

September 2020: Rubio applauded Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett

In September 2020, Marco Rubio applauded Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court following Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death.

November 2020: Rubio Announces Run for Third Senate Term

In November 2020, 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 Regain Senate Majority

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

2020: China Sanctions Rubio

In 2020, China sanctioned Marco 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

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

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.

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 inciting the Capitol attack

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

May 2021: Argued Wall Street must stop enabling Communist China

In May 2021, Marco Rubio argued that "Wall Street must stop enabling Communist China" in The American Prospect and on his website.

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

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

February 2022: Rubio Condemned Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

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

2022: Rubio Condemns Holding Olympics in China

In 2022, Marco Rubio condemned holding the 2022 Winter Olympics in China due to its "evil, genocidal regime".

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 a Third Senate Term

In 2022, Marco Rubio was reelected to a third term, defeating Democratic nominee Val Demings in a landslide victory.

2022: Rubio Wins Third Senate Term

In 2022, Rubio won the general election with 57% of the vote to Demings's 41%.

March 2023: Rubio Supports Revoking China's Trade Status

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

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.

November 2024: Rubio Chosen as Secretary of State

In November 2024, Donald Trump chose Marco Rubio as United States Secretary of State in his second administration.

November 2024: Rubio Discussed Stalemate in Ukraine War

In November 2024, Marco Rubio acknowledged the bravery of Ukrainians but stated that the war in Ukraine had reached a "stalemate" and needed to be brought to a conclusion to avoid further casualties.

November 2024: Nominated for Secretary of State

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

2024: Endorsed Trump for President

In 2024, Marco Rubio endorsed Trump for president days before the Iowa caucuses.

January 15, 2025: Rubio Appears Before Senate Committee

On January 15, 2025, Marco Rubio appeared before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. During the hearing, he called China "the most potent and dangerous near-peer adversary this nation has ever faced".

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

On January 20, 2025, Marco Rubio was formally nominated by President Trump 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 after being unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. He is the first Hispanic to serve in the position and the first Floridian to serve as Secretary of State.

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.

February 2025: Rubio Meets with El Salvador President and Reaches Agreement on Deportees

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 Supports U.S. Takeover of 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".

February 16, 2025: Rubio Discusses Ukraine War 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 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.

March 9, 2025: Rubio Condemns Massacres in Syria

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 Sends Arms Shipment to Israel

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

2025: Appointed as Secretary of State

In 2025, Marco Rubio became the 72nd United States Secretary of State. During his tenure, he has also served as the acting administrator of USAID and acting archivist of the United States.