Full History Of Marco Rubio In Timeline From 1956

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

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

1956: Date of Parents Leaving Cuba

In October 2011, The Washington Post stated that Marco Rubio's parents left Cuba in 1956 during the Batista regime.

1959: Rubio's Grandfather Returned to Cuba

In 1959, Rubio's maternal grandfather returned to Cuba to find work.

1959: Contradictory Date of Parents Leaving Cuba

In October 2011, The Washington Post disputed that Marco Rubio's parents left Cuba in 1959, stating that they left Cuba in 1956

1961: Rubio's Mother's Trip to Cuba

In 1961, Marco Rubio's mother made a month-long return trip to Cuba.

1962: Rubio's Grandfather Fled Cuba

In 1962, Rubio's maternal grandfather fled communist Cuba and returned to the U.S. without a visa, leading to detention before being reclassified as a 'parolee'.

1966: Rubio's Grandfather Reapplied for Residency

In 1966, Rubio's grandfather reapplied for permanent resident status after the Cuban Adjustment Act passed, and his residency was approved.

1969: Henry Kissinger's Combined Tenure Start

In 1969, Henry Kissinger began his combined tenure in one or both positions as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, a role Rubio would later take on.

May 28, 1971: Marco Rubio's Birth

On May 28, 1971, Marco Antonio Rubio was born in Miami, Florida.

1971: Birth of Marco Rubio

In 1971, Marco Antonio Rubio was born in Miami, Florida, the second son and third child of Mario Rubio Reina and Oriales (née García) Rubio.

1973: Henry Kissinger's First Role

In 1973, Henry Kissinger held the dual role of Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, a role Rubio would later take on.

1975: Henry Kissinger's Last Role

In 1975, Henry Kissinger last held the dual role of Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, a role Rubio would later take on.

1975: Rubio's Parents Naturalized

In 1975, Marco Rubio's parents became naturalized U.S. citizens.

1975: Henry Kissinger Served as Both Secretary of State and National Security Advisor

Marco Rubio became the first person to be both secretary of state and national security advisor in fifty years, since Henry Kissinger in 1975.

1977: Henry Kissinger's Combined Tenure End

In 1977, Henry Kissinger ended his combined tenure in one or both positions as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, a role Rubio would later take on.

1984: First Communion

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

1989: Graduated High School

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

1993: Earned Bachelor of Arts Degree

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

1996: Received Juris Doctor

In 1996, Marco Rubio received 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 as City Commissioner

In April 1998, Marco Rubio was elected as city commissioner for West Miami.

1998: Rubio's marriage to Jeanette Dousdebes

In 1998, Marco Rubio married Jeanette Dousdebes in a Catholic church, the Church of the Little Flower. She is from a Hispanic family, with parents who immigrated from Colombia, and is a former bank teller and Miami Dolphins cheerleader.

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.

January 2000: Took Seat in Florida Legislature

In January 2000, Marco Rubio took his seat in the legislature in Tallahassee, Florida. Voters had recently approved term limits, creating opportunities for new legislative leaders.

January 25, 2000: Won Special Election

On January 25, 2000, Marco Rubio won the special election for the 111th House District in Florida with 72% of the vote.

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.

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 by Mike Fasano to be one of two majority whips in the Florida House of Representatives.

September 2001: Fasano Resigned as Majority Leader

In September 2001, Mike Fasano resigned as majority leader of the Florida House, and Marco Rubio volunteered to work on redistricting.

2001: Rubio's plan to reduce property taxes

In 2001, Marco Rubio introduced a plan to reduce state property taxes to 2001 levels and potentially eliminate them altogether, while increasing sales taxes to fund schools. This proposal was eventually opposed and Rubio agreed to smaller changes.

2001: Legislative Earmarks

In 2001, Marco Rubio requested legislative earmarks totaling about $145 million. These included many items for health and social programs.

December 2002: Appointed House Majority Leader

In December 2002, Marco Rubio was appointed House majority leader by Speaker Johnnie Byrd, and restructured the job to focus on being the main spokesperson for the House GOP.

2002: Legislative Earmarks

In 2002, Marco Rubio requested legislative earmarks totaling about $145 million. These included many items for health and social programs.

2002: Re-elected Unopposed

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

2003: Rubio supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq

In 2003, Marco Rubio voiced his support for the invasion of Iraq, aligning with an interventionist foreign policy approach.

2004: Re-elected with 66% of the Vote

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

January 2005: Personal charges on party credit card

In January 2005, Marco Rubio made personal charges on his Republican Party of Florida American Express card, which he later reimbursed. This issue resurfaced during his 2010 Senate campaign and his 2015 presidential campaign.

September 13, 2005: Became Speaker-Designate

On September 13, 2005, Marco Rubio, at age 34, became the speaker-designate of the Florida House after other candidates dropped out.

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

In 2005, the Supreme Court's decision in Kelo v. City of New London took a broad view of governmental power to take private property under eminent domain, which later influenced Florida's 2006 legislation limiting such authority. Marco Rubio chaired the special committee that proposed the state legislation.

2005: Speech to Florida House

In 2005, when chosen as future speaker, Marco Rubio delivered a speech to the Florida House where he asked members to look in their desks and displayed a blank hardcover book titled "100 Innovative Ideas For Florida's Future", inviting them to fill it with ideas from ordinary Floridians.

October 2006: Personal charges on party credit card

In October 2006, Marco Rubio made personal charges on his Republican Party of Florida American Express card, which he later reimbursed. This issue resurfaced during his 2010 Senate campaign and his 2015 presidential campaign.

November 2006: Elected Speaker of the Florida House

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

2006: Florida enacts law limiting state authority on private property

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

2006: Re-elected Unopposed

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

2006: Publication of "100 Innovative Ideas For Florida's Future"

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

January 2007: Charlie Crist takes office and clashes with Rubio

In January 2007, Charlie Crist succeeded Jeb Bush as governor and frequently clashed with Marco Rubio. Their most significant disagreement involved 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: Jeb Bush leaves office; Rubio hires Bush aides

In January 2007, Jeb Bush completed his term as governor, and Marco Rubio, as Speaker, hired 18 of Bush's aides, leading to the perception that Rubio's office was an extension of Bush's. An article also noted that Rubio's management style differed significantly from Bush's.

2007: Discussion of apology for slavery

In 2007, Florida state senator Tony Hill requested that the legislature apologize for slavery, and Rubio said the idea merited discussion. This marked the beginning of Rubio's involvement in addressing racial issues in Florida.

November 2008: End of Speakership

In November 2008, Marco Rubio's term as speaker of the Florida House of Representatives came to an end.

2008: Rubio begins teaching at FIU

After leaving the Florida Legislature in 2008, Marco Rubio began teaching at Florida International University (FIU) as an adjunct professor, marking the start of his academic career alongside his political endeavors.

2008: Jonathan D. Farrar was the 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. In 2011 Rubio induced the State Department to withdraw an ambassadorial nomination of Jonathan D. Farrar.

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 and initiatives for African-American youth

In 2008, Marco Rubio supported the idea of an apology for slavery, emphasizing its symbolic importance. He also helped set up a council on issues facing black men and boys, supported replicating the Harlem Children's Zone in Miami, and promoted literacy and mentoring for black children.

May 5, 2009: Rubio announces 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. Initially trailing in the primary, Rubio eventually gained support from the Tea Party and surpassed Charlie Crist in polling.

April 28, 2010: Crist announces he will run without party affiliation

On April 28, 2010, Charlie Crist announced he would run for U.S. Senate without a party affiliation, effectively ceding the Republican nomination to Marco Rubio. Several of Crist's top fundraisers and Republican leadership refused to support Crist after Rubio won the Republican nomination.

November 2, 2010: Rubio wins general election for U.S. Senate

On November 2, 2010, Marco Rubio won the general election for the U.S. Senate with 49% of the vote, defeating Charlie Crist and Kendrick Meek. Upon being sworn in, he and Bob Menendez were the only two Hispanic Americans in the Senate.

2010: Report on Spending Requests

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

2010: Elected to U.S. Senate

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

2010: Media raises issues about Rubio's credit card charges

In 2010, during his Senate campaign, the media raised issues about some items charged by Marco Rubio to his Republican Party of Florida American Express card during his time as House speaker. This scrutiny continued during his 2015 presidential campaign.

2010: Foreclosure of shared residence

In 2010, the Tallahassee residence that 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.

March 2011: Rubio supports 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 Muammar Gaddafi. He urged Senate leaders to bring a bipartisan resolution to the Senate floor authorizing the president's decision.

June 2011: Rubio urges passage of authorization for Libya intervention

In June 2011, Marco Rubio, along with Senator Joe Lieberman, urged the passage of congressional authorization for the U.S. military intervention in Libya through an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal.

October 2011: Rubio pushes for continued engagement in Libya

In October 2011, Marco Rubio joined several other senators in pushing for continued engagement in Libya to "help Libya lay the foundation for sustainable security". He also warned of the threat posed by the spread of militias and weapons after Gadhafi was ousted.

October 2011: Washington Post 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; they left in 1956 during the Batista regime.

2011: Rubio defends embargo against Cuba

In 2011, Marco Rubio became an influential defender of the United States embargo against Cuba. He also induced the State Department to withdraw an ambassadorial nomination. In 2011, he visited the Reagan Library, gave a speech praising Ronald Reagan, and rescued Nancy Reagan from falling.

2011: Rubio votes against 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. He later criticized the policy as a "terrible idea" based on a "false choice".

2011: Rubio takes office as Senator

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

2011: Rubio rejoins FIU faculty

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

March 2012: Rubio endorses Mitt Romney for president

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

2012: Paid Off Student Loans

In 2012, Marco Rubio paid off $100,000 in student loans.

2012: Rubio votes against "fiscal cliff" resolutions

In 2012, Marco Rubio voted against the "fiscal cliff" resolutions, expressing concerns that the new tax would force small businesses to make difficult decisions, such as firing employees or cutting back hours and benefits.

2012: Ethics commission clears Rubio of wrongdoing

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.

2013: Rubio Ranked as 17th Most Conservative Senator

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

2013: Rubio participates in "Gang of Eight" for immigration reform

In 2013, Marco Rubio was part of the bipartisan "Gang of Eight" senators that crafted comprehensive immigration reform legislation. The bill passed the Senate with his support, but he later signaled that the House should not take up the bill.

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

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

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

In 2013, Rubio delivered the Republican response to President Obama's State of the Union Address, which was the first time the response was delivered in both English and Spanish. Rand Paul delivered an additional response, calling for defense sequestration.

April 2014: Rubio's potential presidential run in 2016

In April 2014, Rubio stated he would not run for reelection to the Senate if he ran for president in 2016 due to Florida law. Also in April 2014, Cesar Conda, Rubio's chief of staff, left to lead Rubio's Reclaim America PAC, signaling potential preparations for a presidential campaign.

April 18, 2014: Rubio drops to 10th place in New Hampshire poll

As of April 18, 2014, Rubio dropped to 10th place in a WMUR/University poll tracking New Hampshire's Republican primary voters' sentiment, but was still seen as not disliked.

November 2014: Rubio pushes for elimination of 'risk corridors'

In November 2014, with Republicans taking control of the U.S. Senate, Rubio advocated for the elimination of the "risk corridors" within the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). These corridors were intended to be funded by profitable insurers but were depleted due to insurer losses.

2014: Republicans gain majority control of the Senate

After the 2014 midterm elections, the Republicans obtained majority control of the Senate. This gave 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: Club for Growth Rating of Rubio

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

2014: Alberto Martinez becomes Rubio's chief of staff

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

January 2015: Rubio begins contacting donors and appointing advisors for a potential 2016 run

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

January 2015: Rubio places second in an online poll of likely voters.

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

February 2015: Analysis of Rubio's voting record

According to an analysis reported in February 2015, Rubio missed 8.3% of total votes from January 2011 to February 2015.

March 2015: Rubio proposes tax plan with Senator Mike Lee

In March 2015, Rubio and Senator Mike Lee proposed a tax plan to lower the corporate income tax rate, eliminate taxes on capital gains and dividends, create a new child tax credit, and replace the welfare system with a new "consolidated system of benefits".

April 13, 2015: Rubio launches his campaign for president in 2016.

On April 13, 2015, Rubio launched his campaign for president in 2016, positioning himself as a candidate who could restore the American Dream for middle and working-class families.

April 2015: Rubio decides to run for president

In April 2015, Marco Rubio decided to run for president instead of seeking reelection to the Senate, marking a shift in his political career and ambitions.

April 2015: Launched Presidential Bid

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

November 2015: Rubio releases party credit card statements

In November 2015, during his presidential campaign, Marco Rubio released his party credit card statements from January 2005 through October 2006. The statements showed eight personal charges totaling $7,243.74, all of which he had personally reimbursed.

November 2015: Rubio's stance on Syrian refugees after Paris attacks

In November 2015, following the Paris terrorist attacks, Marco Rubio stated that the U.S. should halt the acceptance of Syrian refugees due to the inability to conduct thorough background checks.

2015: Rubio's Rating by American Conservative Union

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: Rubio criticized by Chris Christie in New Hampshire debate.

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

February 2016: Rubio Criticizes Trump During Republican Primary

In February 2016, during the Republican primary campaign, Marco Rubio called Donald Trump a "con artist" and said 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.

March 2016: Rubio opposes Obama's Supreme Court nomination

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

May 17, 2016: Rubio supports Obama's request for Zika virus spending.

On May 17, 2016, Rubio supported Obama's request for $2 billion in emergency spending on the Zika virus, stating it was really the scientists' and doctors' request to address the issue.

June 13, 2016: Rubio considers running for reelection to the Senate

On June 13, 2016, after suspending his presidential campaign, Marco Rubio "seemed to open the door to running for reelection" to the Senate, citing the previous day's Orlando nightclub shooting as a reason to reconsider his service to the country.

June 2016: Rubio Reaffirms Criticism of Trump

In June 2016, after Trump became the presumptive GOP nominee, 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, despite previous criticisms.

August 30, 2016: Rubio wins Republican primary

On August 30, 2016, Marco Rubio won the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate, defeating Carlos Beruff. He would later face Democratic nominee Patrick Murphy in the general election.

October 7, 2016: Rubio Condemns Trump's 'Access Hollywood' Comments

On October 7, 2016, following the Donald Trump Access Hollywood controversy, Marco Rubio condemned Trump's comments as vulgar and egregious, though he reaffirmed his support for Trump shortly thereafter.

2016: Rubio's criticism of Trump during the Republican primaries

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

2016: Rubio Backs Trump and Confirms Convention Attendance

In 2016, Marco Rubio backed Donald Trump for president, citing him as the better choice over Hillary Clinton, and confirmed his attendance at the 2016 Republican National Convention.

2016: Rubio condemned Turkey's crackdown on dissent.

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

2016: Rubio runs for president

In 2016, Marco Rubio ran as a candidate during the 2016 Republican Party primary elections for president of the United States.

2016: Rubio's stance on interrogation techniques for captured terrorists.

In 2016, Rubio stated that the U.S. should "find out everything they know" from captured terrorists and should not telegraph what interrogation techniques will or won't be used.

January 2017: Rubio's expected departure from politics.

By January 2017, after suspending his presidential campaign and ruling out other political offices, Rubio initially indicated he would be a "private citizen", leading to speculation about the termination of his political career.

April 5, 2017: Rubio comments on Bashar al-Assad's actions.

On April 5, 2017, Rubio stated that Bashar al-Assad felt he could act with "impunity" because the United States wasn't prioritizing his removal from office.

September 2017: Rubio defends Trump's decision to rescind DACA.

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

February 2018: Rubio defends accepting NRA contributions

In February 2018, at a CNN town hall event following the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, Marco Rubio defended his record of accepting contributions from the National Rifle Association (NRA), attributing the group's influence to its millions of supporters rather than monetary donations.

March 2018: Rubio defends citizenship question on 2020 census

In March 2018, Marco Rubio defended the Trump administration's decision to include a citizenship question on the 2020 census, despite concerns that it would lead to undercounting of undocumented immigrants.

July 2018: Rubio's amendment to disclose real estate buyers

In July 2018, Marco Rubio proposed an amendment to a congressional spending bill aimed at compelling companies that purchase real estate with cash to reveal their owners, in order to combat criminals using illicit funds through shell companies.

August 28, 2018: Call for sanctions against Chinese officials

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

2018: Rubio Reverses Position on Climate Change

By 2018, Marco 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.

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: Rubio defends Trump's decision to host G7 summit at Trump National Doral Miami.

In 2019, Rubio defended Trump's decision to host the 46th G7 summit at the Trump National Doral Miami, calling it "great" and good for local businesses.

April 2020: Supreme Court defeats 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, also known as Obamacare.

August 10, 2020: Chinese government sanctions Rubio over Hong Kong-related issues.

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

September 2020: Rubio applauds Trump's Supreme Court nomination

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

November 2020: Rubio announces he will run for a third Senate term

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

November 23, 2020: Rubio refers to Biden as president-elect.

By November 23, 2020, after initial defense of Trump's challenges to the election results, Rubio referred to Biden as president-elect.

2020: Democrats regain majority control of the Senate

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

2020: China sanctions Rubio

In 2020, China imposed sanctions on Marco Rubio and banned him from traveling to the country due to his support for Hong Kong's democracy movement.

2020: Rubio Joins Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus

In 2020, Marco Rubio joined the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus.

2020: Sanctioned by China

In 2020, Marco Rubio was sanctioned twice by the Chinese government and banned from entering China.

2020: Rubio supports Judy Shelton's nomination to the Federal Reserve board

In 2020, Rubio supported the nomination of Judy Shelton to the Federal Reserve board of governors, despite her receiving criticism for her monetary policy views.

2020: ICC opened an investigation into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.

In 2020, the International Criminal Court (ICC) opened an investigation into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, leading to future actions by Marco Rubio.

2020: Rubio defends citizenship question on 2020 census

In March 2018, Marco Rubio defended the Trump administration's decision to include a citizenship question on the 2020 census, despite concerns that it would lead to undercounting of undocumented immigrants.

January 2021: Rubio sponsors the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

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

February 2021: Rubio votes to acquit Trump for role in Capitol attack.

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

May 2021: Rubio argues 'Wall Street must stop enabling Communist China'

In May 2021, Rubio argued that "Wall Street must stop enabling Communist China", highlighting the geo-economic threat posed by the CCP.

May 28, 2021: Rubio votes against creating January 6 commission.

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

2021: ICC deprioritized the investigation into U.S. troops.

In 2021, the International Criminal Court (ICC) deprioritized the investigation into U.S. troops, focusing instead on crimes committed by the Taliban and ISIS-K.

February 2022: Rubio condemns Russia's invasion of Ukraine

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

2022: Rubio condemns the 2022 Winter Olympics in China and introduces the Chinese Communist Party Visa Ban Act

In 2022, Marco Rubio condemned holding the 2022 Winter Olympics in China. He also introduced the Chinese Communist Party Visa Ban Act, which would effectively prohibit any member of the CCP from visiting the United States.

2022: Rubio runs for a third Senate term

In 2022, Marco Rubio ran for a third Senate term, facing Democratic challenger Val Demings. Rubio won the November 8 general election with 57% of the vote to Demings's 41%.

2022: Re-elected to Third Senate Term

In 2022, Marco Rubio was re-elected to a third term as Senator, defeating Democratic nominee Val Demings.

2022: Rubio denounces Russian invasion of Ukraine

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

March 2023: Support for revoking China's trade status

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

2023: Rubio places blame on Hamas for Palestinian casualties

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

November 2024: Trump Chooses Rubio as Secretary of State

In November 2024, Donald Trump chose Marco Rubio as United States Secretary of State in his second administration, confirming this on November 13.

November 2024: Rubio discusses stalemate in Ukraine war

In November 2024, Marco Rubio described the war in Ukraine as having reached a "stalemate" and stated that it "needs to be brought to a conclusion" to prevent further casualties.

November 2024: Nomination 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 Donald Trump for president days before the Iowa caucuses.

2024: ICC Issued Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant

In 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant, leading to actions by Marco Rubio.

January 15, 2025: Rubio Appears Before Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

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" and said the Chinese Communist Party had "lied, cheated, hacked, and stolen their way to global superpower status at our expense".

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

On January 20, 2025, President 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 was confirmed and took office as the U.S. Secretary of State.

January 22, 2025: Rubio Instructs State Department to Freeze Passport Applications with 'X' Sex Markers

On January 22, 2025, in compliance with Executive Order 14168, Marco Rubio instructed State Department staff to freeze any passport applications that requested "X" sex markers, holding some transgender applicants' documents and creating widespread confusion.

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

On January 24, 2025, Marco Rubio enacted an unprecedented 90-day freeze on all U.S. foreign aid, with some exceptions, effective January 28, shutting down many of USAID's programs worldwide.

February 2025: Rubio Supports U.S. Takeover of Gaza Strip

In February 2025, Marco Rubio supported Donald Trump's proposal for the U.S. to 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.

February 16, 2025: Rubio Rejects Concerns About Ukraine in Peace Negotiations

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

March 7, 2025: Rubio Clashes With Elon Musk During 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 him 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 9, 2025: Rubio Condemns 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, expressing support for Syria's religious and ethnic minorities.

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 1, 2025: Appointed Acting National Security Advisor

On May 1, 2025, Marco Rubio was appointed as the acting National Security Advisor, while continuing to serve as Secretary of State.

May 15, 2025: Rubio Acknowledges Criticism of Gaza Humanitarian Plan

On May 15, 2025, Marco Rubio acknowledged criticism of the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's plan and said the U.S. government is "open to an alternative if someone has a better one".

May 16, 2025: Trump Discusses Gaza Humanitarian Situation

On May 16, 2025, while in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Donald Trump said: "We're looking at Gaza. And we're going to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving."

June 2025: Rubio Announces 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: White House Requests Congress to Pass Rescissions Package

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.

June 27, 2025: Rubio Hosts Peace Agreement Between DRC and Rwanda

On June 27, 2025, Marco Rubio hosted a peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, according to which Rwanda will withdraw soldiers from the eastern DRC and the two countries will launch a framework for economic integration within 90 days.