Rubio assumes dual national security positions following his endorsement of Trump's "America First" ideology
Fresh Take:
Rubio Steps Up: Two Top National Security Jobs Combined
Washington D.C. - It's a wild ride in the White House as Secretary of State Marco Rubio takes on dual responsibilities, initially as a temporary National Security Advisor, due to the removal of Mike Waltz. Trump's latest shake-up of his second term team has Rubio juggling two key roles, with no signs of slowing down.
The controversy surrounding Waltz started when he created a private Signal group chat, accidentally adding a journalist to the conversation where top national security officials shared sensitive military plans. Rubio, who once locked horns with Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, has proven his adaptability, aligning with Trump's "America First" foreign policy.
Rubio's Double Duty
Rubio, the second person to hold both positions, follows only the legendary Henry Kissinger, who held both roles for two years in the '70s under Presidents Nixon and Ford. Since taking office as America's top diplomat, Rubio has overseen a radical reorganization of the State Department, dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development and proposing job cuts by 15%. He's also implemented a major visa cull, revoking visas for foreign students, and overseen the negotiation of agreements to send immigrants accused of crimes to third countries.
"Marco Rubio, unbelievable," Trump praised on social media. "When I have a problem, I call up Marco, he gets it solved." Now, Rubio leads not only the State Department but also the National Security Council, responsible for managing all executive branch foreign policy functions. Critics suggest the dual role could be overwhelming, but Rubio has proven resilient so far.
Navigating the Challenges
Thomas Wright, a former NSC official, underlined the daunting nature of the National Security Advisor role: "It is just very hard to comprehend the idea that you can do this job sort of part-time." Wright witnessed the tireless work of Jake Sullivan and his deputy, working 14-15 hours a day, six to seven days a week during the Biden administration.
Rubio, so far, has remained tight-lipped about his additional role. However, he applauded Trump for his vision in a State Department Substack post, stating, "I am proud of the work the Department of State has done over the past hundred days to implement [Trump's] agenda and put the American people first."
Former colleague Dan Gelber noted the reliability of Rubio's work, saying, "He's not a chaos guy, and I've always sort of wondered how he's going to do in an administration where there seems to be so much chaos. And maybe that's why he's getting all these positions."
Compared to Past Examples
Rubio's expanded duties remind us of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who held multiple roles in the first administration, ranging from brokering Middle East peace to dealing with Latin America and immigration. Time will tell how Rubio fares in this dual role, navigating both responsibilities while maintaining effectiveness and avoiding pitfalls.
State Department officials seemed taken aback by Rubio's appointment as acting National Security Advisor, with spokeswoman Tammy Bruce learning the news from a journalist minutes after the announcement. Although expectations remain that Rubio's duties as Secretary of State will change minimally, his increased time at the White House signals a renewed focus on his new role.
- Despite the combined roles, Secretary Rubio's responsibilities in the war-and-conflicts and general-news sectors, especially immigration and crime, largely remain his focus.
- Rubio's appointment as the National Security Advisor, in addition to his role as Secretary of State, has led to a reconsideration of the career-development possibilities in politics, much like Jared Kushner's various roles demonstrated.
- The controversy surrounding Mike Waltz's removal from the National Security Advisor position has opened the door for California-born Rubio to step in, highlighting the increasing significance of immigration and crime-and-justice issues in national security.
- While Rubio's double role is unprecedented since Henry Kissinger's dual tenure in the '70s, his education-and-self-development background and adaptability have contributed to his success in the highly demanding, complex world of law and politics.
- Rubio's strategy in the State Department has been evident in the visa cull, visas revoked for foreign students, and immigration agreements with third countries, transforming the landscape of immigration and crime.
- The potential challenges in balancing Rubio's responsibilities as the head of the State Department and the National Security Council have been questioned, with critics suggesting the combined role could be overwhelming, just as Thomas Wright illustrated through the exhausting work ethic of Jake Sullivan during the Biden administration.
- The resilience of Rubio, who has proven his capability in the roles, has garnered praise from Trump, who has described him as a problem-solver and a key figure in national security and foreign policy.
