"Rubio Ascends to Dual Role as Secretary of State and National Security Adviser in Trump's Second Term"

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been thrust into a historic dual role within the Trump administration, becoming only the second person in U.S. history to simultaneously serve as both Secretary of State and National Security Adviser. On May 2, 2025, President Trump announced that Rubio would temporarily replace Mike Waltz as National Security Adviser, following Waltz's dismissal related to a Signal messaging mishap where sensitive military plans were accidentally shared with a journalist.

The appointment appears to be more than just a stopgap measure. According to White House officials, Rubio is expected to serve in both positions for at least six months, with several senior Trump advisers advocating to make this arrangement permanent. This represents a remarkable ascension for the former Florida senator who was once mocked as "Li'l Marco" during the 2016 presidential primaries.

Rubio has skillfully navigated his position within the administration by aligning himself with Trump's "America First" foreign policy vision, despite previously holding contrary positions on issues like foreign aid and democracy promotion. His ability to adapt and gain the president's trust has led Trump to view him as a reliable problem-solver, with the president recently stating, "When I have a problem, I call Marco Rubio. He gets it solved."

In his role as Secretary of State, Rubio has presided over significant changes at the State Department, implementing a radical reorganization that reflects the administration's foreign policy priorities. He has been spending increasingly more time at the White House, away from his office in the State Department's prestigious "Mahogany Row."

The dual appointment mirrors the arrangement under Presidents Nixon and Ford when Henry Kissinger simultaneously held both positions in the 1970s. While Rubio plans to continue his diplomatic travels abroad, officials suggest he will likely delegate some National Security Council management responsibilities.

This development comes as Rubio approaches his first 100 days as America's top diplomat. His primary objective in the expanded role, according to White House officials, is to instill stability and reorient the National Security Council to ensure its outputs "completely align with the president's vision."

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, who learned about Rubio's new role during a press briefing, described the pace of changes in the administration as "like hanging onto a freaking bullet train." The appointment solidifies Rubio's position as a key architect of American foreign policy in the second Trump administration, marking a dramatic evolution for a former rival who has become one of the president's most trusted advisers.