President Donald Trump has formally appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio as his national security adviser, making permanent a role Rubio has held since May 2025.
The appointment was confirmed by a White House spokesperson, who stated that Trump signed a commission formalizing Rubio’s position. The exact date of the signing was not disclosed.
Rubio has served as acting national security adviser since May 2025, following the interim appointment of Michael Waltz. The move solidifies Rubio’s expanded portfolio within the administration, where he has held multiple high-level roles simultaneously.
Rubio is now the second person in U.S. history to hold both the secretary of state and national security adviser positions concurrently, a distinction previously held by Henry Kissinger under President Richard Nixon in the 1970s. Kissinger served as national security adviser from 1969 to 1975 and secretary of state from 1973 to 1977, wielding significant influence during key Cold War-era diplomatic efforts.
The White House has not provided additional details regarding the rationale behind the permanent appointment or Rubio’s ongoing responsibilities. Rubio will continue to oversee the National Security Council process and serve as a direct advisor to the president on national security matters.
Rubio’s tenure in the Trump administration has been marked by an unusually broad range of roles. In addition to his current positions, he previously served as acting administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and acting archivist of the United States from February to December 2025. His multi-role tenure has drawn public attention, including online commentary about the scope of his responsibilities.