In February 2023, Marco Rubio sat down with Chuck Warren and Sam Stone as a U.S. Senator from Florida and the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee. The episode was titled simply “National Security.” Three and a half years later, that title reads more like a job description.
Today Rubio runs the State Department and coordinates national security policy from the White House. No one has held both posts at once since Henry Kissinger in the 1970s. Here is how he got there, what the dual role involves, and why it matters for American foreign policy heading into 2028.
Marco Rubio is the 72nd U.S. Secretary of State. The Senate confirmed him unanimously in January 2025. He became acting national security adviser on May 1, 2025, and President Trump made that role permanent in September 2026. Rubio is the first person since Henry Kissinger to hold both positions at the same time.
Who Is Marco Rubio?
Rubio was born in Miami on May 28, 1971, to parents who came to the United States from Cuba. That background has shaped much of his politics, especially his hard line on the Castro regime and his focus on Latin America.
He came up through Florida politics. He served in the Florida House of Representatives and rose to Speaker before winning a U.S. Senate seat in 2010. He ran for president in 2016, losing the Republican nomination to Donald Trump after a bruising primary. He then won reelection to the Senate in 2016 and 2022.
In the Senate, his portfolio leaned heavily toward foreign affairs and security. He served on the Foreign Relations Committee and became Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. That was the title he held when he joined Breaking Battlegrounds.
Marco Rubio's Career at a Glance
| Period | Role | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | Florida House of Representatives, including Speaker | Built his statewide profile and political network |
| 2011 to 2025 | U.S. Senator from Florida | Three terms focused on foreign policy, China, and Latin America |
| 2016 | Republican presidential candidate | Lost the nomination to Donald Trump |
| 2021 to 2025 | Vice Chairman, Senate Intelligence Committee | Oversight of the U.S. intelligence community |
| January 2025 | Confirmed as 72nd Secretary of State | Confirmed unanimously by the Senate |
| May 1, 2025 | Acting National Security Adviser | Took over after Mike Waltz left the post |
| September 2026 | Permanent National Security Adviser | First dual officeholder since Kissinger |
What Does Marco Rubio Do as Secretary of State?
The Secretary of State is the president’s chief diplomat. The job covers negotiating with foreign governments, running U.S. embassies around the world, and managing the State Department workforce.
Rubio’s tenure has also included some unusual extra assignments. Early in the second Trump administration, he served as acting administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development and as acting archivist of the United States. Those roles came on top of his core diplomatic work.
Marco Rubio as National Security Adviser
The national security adviser works inside the White House. The role is very different from the State Department job. The adviser runs the National Security Council staff and coordinates policy across State, Defense, the intelligence agencies, and other departments. The adviser also briefs the president directly.
Rubio stepped into the role on an acting basis on May 1, 2025, after Mike Waltz left the position. Waltz’s exit followed the “Signalgate” episode, in which the editor of The Atlantic was mistakenly added to a group chat where senior officials discussed military strikes in Yemen.
For 16 months, Rubio did both jobs on an interim basis. In September 2026, President Trump signed a commission making him the permanent national security adviser.
Why the Dual Role Is Rare
Only one other person has held both posts at once. Henry Kissinger became national security adviser in 1969 and added Secretary of State in 1973. He held both until November 1975.
Supporters inside the administration describe Rubio as someone who can handle several large jobs without friction. They also argue that one person in both roles removes the turf battles between State and the National Security Council that have hobbled past administrations.
Critics see risks. Putting the chief diplomat and the policy coordinator in the same person reduces internal debate. Those checks are part of why the roles were separated in the first place. Commentators have also noted how far Rubio’s current role sits from his Senate record, which emphasized alliances and human rights.
Both arguments deserve a hearing. Our view is that the arrangement works only as long as the person holding both jobs can manage the workload and still bring dissenting views to the president. That is a test of individual capacity, not a structure that should become permanent precedent.
Rubio and the 2028 Conversation
The dual role also feeds speculation about 2028. Some political writers have described a possible future contest for the Republican nomination between Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. Rubio has said publicly that he has no plans at this time. Readers should treat any 2028 talk as speculation until a candidate actually declares.
Related Breaking Battlegrounds Discussion
Rubio appeared on Podcast 124: Senator Marco Rubio on National Security, recorded February 22, 2023. At the time he was a sitting senator and Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The full episode runs about 54 minutes.
The same episode featured former Utah Congresswoman Mia Love, who has her own episode on immigration and the border crisis. It also included an update from journalist Alexander Raikin, who previously joined the show to discuss Canada’s assisted suicide program.
Listening back now offers a useful look at how Rubio approached intelligence and security questions from the legislative side, before he took charge of carrying out policy. You can meet the hosts behind the interview, Sam Stone and Chuck Warren.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marco Rubio the Secretary of State?
Yes. Marco Rubio is the 72nd U.S. Secretary of State. The Senate confirmed him unanimously at the start of President Trump’s second term in January 2025. He is the first Latino to serve as Secretary of State. He previously represented Florida in the U.S. Senate.
Is Marco Rubio the national security adviser?
Yes. Rubio became acting national security adviser on May 1, 2025, after Mike Waltz left the role. In September 2026, President Trump signed a commission making the appointment permanent. Rubio continues to serve as Secretary of State at the same time.
Has anyone else been Secretary of State and national security adviser at once?
Only Henry Kissinger. He served as national security adviser under President Nixon starting in 1969, became Secretary of State in 1973, and held both posts until November 1975. Rubio is the second person in U.S. history to hold both jobs simultaneously.
When was Marco Rubio on Breaking Battlegrounds?
Rubio joined hosts Chuck Warren and Sam Stone for Podcast 124, “Senator Marco Rubio on National Security,” recorded February 22, 2023. He was then a U.S. Senator from Florida and Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The episode is available on the Breaking Battlegrounds website and major podcast platforms.
What did Marco Rubio do before becoming Secretary of State?
Rubio served in the Florida House of Representatives, including as Speaker. He then represented Florida in the U.S. Senate from 2011 until January 2025. In the Senate he served on the Foreign Relations Committee and was Vice Chairman of the Intelligence Committee. He also ran for president in 2016.
Conclusion
Rubio’s career traces an unusual path, from Senate overseer of the intelligence community to the official who now shapes and carries out American foreign policy. Holding two of the most powerful national security jobs at once gives him rare influence. It also concentrates responsibility in a way Washington has seen only once before.
For voters, the question is not just what Rubio believes about China, Latin America, or alliances. It is whether one person can carry that load well, and what the arrangement means for how national security decisions get made.
Related Reads
Sources
- S. Department of State, Secretary of State biography: https://www.state.gov/
- The Hill, “Trump officially makes Rubio national security adviser,” September 22, 2026
- Fox News Digital, reporting on Rubio’s permanent national security adviser commission, September 22, 2026
- Washington Examiner, “Rubio named national security adviser after 16 months as acting,” September 2026
- NBC News, reporting on Rubio’s appointment as acting national security adviser, May 2025
- NPR, interview with Dexter Filkins on Rubio’s dual role, March 14, 2026
- Breaking Battlegrounds, Podcast 124 episode page, recorded February 22, 2023
Editorial Note: This article is intended for informational and analytical purposes. Political developments, policies, polling, and public statements can change over time. Readers should consult primary sources and official government information for the latest details.
