Marco Rubio: Trump’s One-Man Cabinet Juggling Four Roles

In a political plot twist worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster, Marco Rubio has transformed from Donald Trump’s fierce presidential rival into his ultimate multi-tasking wingman. Once pegged as an early exit from the administration due to his hawkish foreign policy roots, Rubio has instead become the president’s go-to problem-solver, juggling an unprecedented four roles in the White House.

Trump’s confidence in Rubio is clear. "When I have a problem, I call up Marco. He gets it solved," the president said with a grin. From a unanimous 99-0 Senate confirmation as secretary of state to absorbing USAID under his leadership as acting director, Rubio’s portfolio keeps expanding. Add to that his interim gigs leading the National Archives and, as of last week, stepping in as acting national security advisor after Mike Waltz’s exit, and you’ve got a one-man cabinet.

But can one person, even one as seasoned as Rubio, handle this high-stakes juggling act? The national security advisor role alone demands near-constant proximity to the president, ready to brief on global crises at a moment’s notice. Meanwhile, Rubio’s diplomatic duties could have him hopping continents to avert, say, a nuclear standoff in Pakistan. "No one can do that," warned Joel Rubin, a former senior State Department official, calling the workload unfair to Rubio, taxpayers, and Trump himself.

History offers a rare precedent: Henry Kissinger pulled double duty as secretary of state and national security advisor in the 1970s. But that was a different era, with fewer global flashpoints. Today, with tensions simmering in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, some experts argue Rubio’s spread-too-thin schedule risks gaps in the administration’s national security strategy.

Still, Rubio’s rise reflects Trump’s trust in a loyal ally who’s traded his Senate hawkishness for a more accommodating stance, aligning with the administration’s America First ethos. Yet whispers of chaos linger. The dismantling of USAID, the influence of informal advisors like Stephen Miller, and a slew of special envoys bypassing Rubio raise questions about his actual clout. "Foreign counterparts may find him pleasant, but do they believe he can deliver?" one former official mused.

For now, Rubio’s energy and knack for connecting with Trump’s base keep him in the game. But as global challenges mount, the question isn’t just whether he can handle four jobs—it’s whether he’s truly empowered to do even one.