Unexpectedly, Marco Rubio has gone from being a fierce opponent of Donald Trump for president to becoming Trump’s trusted advisor.
Since Rubio’s America First credentials were questioned due to his prior aggressive foreign policy opinions, current and former officials anticipated that he would be one of the first Cabinet officials fired upon the start of the new government.
On the contrary, Rubio’s popularity with the president has only grown, and he currently serves in an unparalleled four capacities inside the government.
I contact Marco whenever I am in need of assistance. “He gets it solved,” Trump joked earlier this month.
The first step was Rubio’s 99-0 confirmation by the Senate to serve as secretary of state. After that, Trump and his associates dissolved USAID and reorganized it under Rubio’s direction at the State Department, with Rubio as interim head. Following this, the secretary was chosen to serve as the head of the National Archives, and as of last week, he took over for Mike Waltz as the acting advisor on national security.
“This is an expression of trust,” stated Andrew Tabler, a former senior official at State and the National Security Council (NSC). “It’s a sign that the president likes Secretary Rubio, despite the odds.”
While Trump’s suggestion that the temporary arrangement may last for as long as six months shows his faith in Rubio, some are wondering if he can successfully handle four prominent positions on his own.
No one can achieve it, despite Marco Rubio’s skill, according to Joel Rubin, a former senior official in the State Department.
Between 1975 to 1977, Henry Kissinger was the last individual to hold the dual positions of secretary of state and national security advisor. The dangers confronting the country have only grown since then, though, and that was fifty years ago.
“Not fair to the individual, not fair to the taxpayer, and not fair to President Trump, who needs strong, independent advice from a national security advisor.” — Rubin, who worked under both Democratic and Republican administrations.
“The president has assembled an incredibly talented team that is fully committed to putting America and Americans first,” a senior State Department official said in response to a query about Rubio’s multiple roles. “Secretary Rubio looks forward to serving as his interim national security advisor while ensuring the mission-critical work at the State Department continues uninterrupted.”
Historically, the president’s national security advisor has been his right-hand man in times of war, peace, and international crises; this person is stationed adjacent to the Oval Office and is always prepared to inform the president. Keeping that level of closeness while one is traveling internationally on diplomatic missions is no easy feat.
“If he has to fly off to Pakistan to stop a nuclear war, then the president’s national security advisor, who usually is sitting right next to him, is not there.”
In early April, the National Security Council lost Waltz, deputy advisor Alex Wong, and many other personnel, leading to a larger shakeup that included this reorganization. According to many reports, the situation has become even more critical due to the reduction of manpower.
There are three distinct arenas where serious threats to national security exist. Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. An ex-NSC official claimed that “things are getting tense in Asia” due to two ongoing wars. “The president’s national security team needs to be filled out, and many people at State and DOD still need to be confirmed.”
Having a national security adviser “is one of the president’s closest relationships,” stated Michael Allen, a former special assistant to the president and senior director at NSC. The president must have the national security advisor in close proximity at all times. Alternatively, always be able to update the president. And they’re already short-handed, so this is only adding to Rubio’s workload.
For the time being, structural worries may take a back seat to the president’s personal comfort with his top national security adviser, according to Allen.
“If the president feels like he needs Rubio there, then this is a good solution,” said Allen. “At least for the short to medium term.”
However, there are those who believe that Rubio’s promotion may be more symbolic than practical, especially in a White House where power isn’t necessarily proportional to official positions.
‘Can Marco Rubio do four jobs?’ isn’t, in my opinion. According to Mark Feierstein, a former senior official at USAID, the question comes down to whether he is authorized to conduct his work as Secretary of State. “Foreign counterparts may see him as pleasant in meetings, but they don’t necessarily believe he can deliver.”
Feierstein mentioned the defunding of USAID, the growth of unofficial advisers such as Stephen Miller, and the increase in special envoys who work around Rubio, such as Steve Witkoff. There are a lot of individuals who answer directly to Trump or other people. So now everything is in disarray,” he stated.
One cannot help but wonder about even Rubio’s ideological stance. While serving in the Senate, Rubio was a vocal opponent of American foreign policy. However, throughout his tenure as president, he has presided over a foreign policy apparatus that has slashed funding for the State Department drastically and reached out to Russia, two policies he may have opposed in the past.
“He’s chosen to make an exception,” Feierstein stated.