Marco Antonio Rubio (b. May 28, 1971, Miami, Florida) is a politician and lawyer affiliated with USA. After serving in local and state-level positions in Florida, he represented Florida in the United States Senate from 2011 to 2025. He assumed office as United States Secretary of State on January 25, 2025.

Family, Childhood and Education

Marco Rubio was born in Miami to a Cuban immigrant family. During his childhood he lived for a time with his family in Las Vegas, Nevada, before returning to Florida.

He completed his secondary education at South Miami Senior High School. He began his undergraduate studies at Tarkio College, later transferred to Santa Fe Community College, and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Florida. He completed his legal education at the University of Miami School of Law and received his Juris Doctor (JD) degree in 1996.

Professional Career

During law school, Rubio worked in the office of U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. After completing his legal education, he practiced law in Florida.

Florida Politics

Rubio began his public service in 1998 when he was elected to the West Miami City Commission. In 2000 he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives and served in that role until 2008.

From 2006 to 2008 he served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. During this period he implemented the policy initiative titled “100 Innovative Ideas for Florida’s Future,” organizing public forums and advancing various legislative proposals to the House agenda.

United States Senate (2011–2025)

Marco Rubio was elected as a U.S. Senator from Florida in the 2010 general election and took office in January 2011. During his tenure in the Senate he worked on issues including foreign policy, immigration reform, tax regulation and national security.

In 2013 he participated in the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” immigration reform initiative. The proposed legislation passed the Senate but was not enacted by the House of Representatives.

Rubio gained particular prominence in the Senate through his membership on the Committee on Foreign Relations, playing an active role in hearings on Latin America, China, Russia and the Middle East.

Presidential Primary Campaign (2016)

In 2015 Rubio launched his campaign for the Republican Party’s 2016 presidential nomination. He withdrew from the race after losing the Florida primary in 2016.

During the 2016 primary campaign he criticized Donald Trump. In subsequent years he supported Trump and participated in the Republican Party’s foreign policy framework during the 2024 presidential election cycle.

United States Department of State (2025–)

Following Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, Marco Rubio was nominated for the position of United States Secretary of State. The U.S. Senate confirmed Rubio by a vote of 99–0. Rubio was officially sworn in as Secretary of State on January 25, 2025. With this appointment, he became the first person of Latin American descent to serve as U.S. Secretary of State in American history.

During his tenure as Secretary of State, key foreign policy priorities have included the Russia–Ukraine war, developments in the Middle East, policies toward Israel and Iran, U.S.–China relations and Latin America.

Statements on the Russia–Ukraine War (2025)

In remarks made on a U.S.-based television program in March 2025, Rubio stated that the U.S. administration continues diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine. He highlighted the human cost and long-term consequences of the destruction caused by the conflict, noting that the United States, Ukraine, Russia and European nations are all directly affected parties to the ongoing hostilities.

In the same assessment, he emphasized the decisive role of President of the United States Donald Trump in efforts to end the war, stating that the Washington administration seeks to maintain diplomatic contact with both Russia and Ukraine to clarify the positions of the parties and establish a foundation for compromise. He also addressed U.S.–Ukraine relations and military assistance programs, noting that certain support mechanisms temporarily suspended are being reviewed in the context of peace negotiations. During this televised statement, Rubio spoke with a cross marked on his forehead.

Foreign Policy Approach

Rubio’s foreign policy approach is grounded in interstate competition, national security, the U.S. alliance system and sanctions mechanisms. The policy framework he advocated during his Senate tenure has continued under his authority as Secretary of State in implementing the official foreign policy of the United States.