Introduction to Marco Rubio’s New Roles
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been thrown into two top national security jobs at once as President Donald Trump presses forward with his top-to-bottom revamp of U.S. foreign policy, upending not only longstanding policies that the former Florida senator once supported but also the configuration of the executive branch.
Background on the Appointment
Trump’s appointment of Rubio to temporarily replace Mike Waltz as national security adviser is the first major leadership shake-up of the nascent administration, but Waltz’s removal had been rumored for weeks — ever since he created a Signal group chat and accidentally added a journalist to the conversation where top national security officials shared sensitive military plans.
Rubio’s Dual Role
So, just over 100 days into his tenure as America’s top diplomat, Rubio now becomes just the second person to hold both positions. He follows only the late Henry Kissinger, who served as both secretary of state and national security adviser for two years under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford in the 1970s.
Rubio — a one-time Trump rival and hawkish conservative who was derided by the president as “Little Marco” during the 2016 presidential campaign — has proven adept at aligning himself with Trump’s “America First” foreign policy positions. Rubio has largely eschewed his staunch advocacy of providing foreign aid and promoting democracy overseas since taking over the State Department, repeating a refrain that every policy or program should make America safer, stronger or more prosperous.
Rubio leads during Trump’s massive changes
Since being confirmed in a 99-0 Senate floor vote, Rubio has presided over a radical reorganization of the State Department. That includes the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development and plans to cut U.S. jobs by 15% while closing or consolidating more than 100 bureaus worldwide. He has also begun a major cull of the visa system, revoking hundreds, if not thousands, of visas issued to foreign students.
Challenges and Responsibilities
He has overseen the negotiation of agreements to send immigrants accused of crimes to third countries, most notably to El Salvador, in cases that are now being challenged in federal courts.
“Marco Rubio, unbelievable,” Trump said Thursday before announcing on social media that Waltz would be nominated as ambassador to the United Nations and Rubio would take over as national security adviser in the interim. “When I have a problem, I call up Marco, he gets it solved.”
Rubio’s Transformation
That’s a far cry from 2016, when Rubio and Trump were competing for the GOP presidential nomination and Rubio warned that Trump was a threat. After Trump won, the relationship remained contentious, but eight years later, Rubio was an enthusiastic Trump supporter who worked his Florida bona fides to get into the president’s inner circle.
Expert Insights
Thomas Wright, an NSC official during the Biden administration who is now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said the national security adviser post alone is “more than a full-time job.”
“It is just very hard to comprehend the idea that you can do this job sort of part time,” Wright said.
Rubio’s Response
Appearing Thursday night on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity,” Rubio was not asked to weigh in on the president’s decision to tap him as national security adviser but did joke that he was barred from adding pope to his list of many jobs because he is married.
But as he marked the first 100 days of Trump’s latest term, Rubio applauded the president for his vision.
“I am honored by the trust President Trump placed in me and I am proud of the work the Department of State has done over the past hundred days to implement his agenda and put the American people first,” he wrote Wednesday in a State Department Substack post.
State Department’s View
State Department officials appeared taken aback by Trump’s appointment of Rubio as acting national security adviser. Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said at a briefing Thursday that she learned the news from a journalist who asked her a question about Trump’s post minutes after it appeared on social media.
Officials, however, have noted that Rubio in recent weeks has spent an increasingly large amount of time at the White House away from his posh seventh-floor State Department office in what is known as “Mahogany Row,” a corridor known for its wood paneling.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Marco Rubio’s new roles as both Secretary of State and National Security Adviser mark a significant shift in the Trump administration’s foreign policy approach. With his ability to align himself with Trump’s "America First" policies, Rubio is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the country’s international relations. However, the challenges and responsibilities that come with these dual roles will undoubtedly be daunting, and it remains to be seen how Rubio will navigate these complex positions.
FAQs
- Q: Who is Marco Rubio?
A: Marco Rubio is the current Secretary of State and has been appointed as the acting National Security Adviser. - Q: What are Rubio’s new roles?
A: Rubio will be serving as both the Secretary of State and the National Security Adviser. - Q: Why was Mike Waltz removed as National Security Adviser?
A: Waltz’s removal was rumored for weeks after he accidentally added a journalist to a Signal group chat where sensitive military plans were shared. - Q: How will Rubio’s dual roles affect the State Department?
A: Officials do not expect Rubio’s duties as Secretary of State to change significantly, but he may delegate some NSC management to others. - Q: What are the implications of Rubio’s new roles for U.S. foreign policy?
A: Rubio’s alignment with Trump’s "America First" policies is likely to shape the country’s international relations, but the full implications of his dual roles remain to be seen.
