Rubio to serve for long term as State Secretary, Nat. Sec. Advisor
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Marco Rubio has taken on the roles of Secretary of State and National Security Advisor under Trump, in a move insiders say could become permanent.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a National Day of Prayer event in the Rose Garden of the White House, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
Marco Rubio has assumed an unprecedented dual position in the Trump administration as both Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, an arrangement that, according to senior White House officials, may become permanent.
Three top officials told Politico that the move is not intended as a temporary fix. "It was not set up to be a stop-gap measure," one official said, noting the structure was designed to provide stability and coherence across the administration's foreign policy apparatus.
Rubio, who did not seek the dual appointment, was reportedly approached by President Donald Trump and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles to assume broader control of the administration's diplomatic and national security strategies.
The decision signals a remarkable rise for the former 2016 Republican presidential contender who once clashed publicly with Trump during the primaries.
"He's just a quintessential team player that is willing to accept whatever task is necessary to deliver for the president, including the hard or risky ones," a senior official stated.
Tasked with restructuring NSC
Rubio's primary mandate is to stabilize and restructure the National Security Council so that its output "fully reflects the president's vision," one source told Politico. "He understands process and foreign policy, and works well with the team, which is a big deal," the official added, calling Rubio "the perfect person" for the role.
Since joining Trump's senior ranks, Rubio has aligned himself closely with the president's agenda. Once a strong proponent of US support for Ukraine, Rubio has since reversed that position and has emerged as a firm backer of Trump's contentious immigration and deportation policies, even as the son of Cuban immigrants.
"You need a team player who is very honest with the president and the senior team, not someone trying to build an empire or wield a knife or drive their own agenda. He is singularly focused on delivering the president's agenda," said one of the officials.
A new Kissinger?
The dual role echoes that of Henry Kissinger, who held both positions under Presidents Nixon and Ford. Kissinger used the dual authority to consolidate significant influence over US foreign policy. While some aides initially expressed hesitation over the scope of Rubio's combined authority, sentiment shifted.
"One is the convener, gatherer of facts, and articulator of policy. And the other is the diplomatic lead. I realized they may be more complementary than I thought," a second official said.
Regarding any speculation about alternative candidates, the same official remarked: "Everyone should stop. We have a sensational person willing to do it."
Trump recently ousted his scandal-ridden National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, in the first major shakeup of Trump's inner circle since he took office in January.
After sacking Waltz for a purported leak concerning a Signal discussion, US President Donald Trump nominated him as the next US Ambassador to the UN.
In a Truth Social post, Trump hailed Waltz's record "on the battlefield, in Congress, and, as my National Security Advisor," adding, "I know he will do the same in his new role."
