President Donald Trump has made Secretary of State Marco Rubio his permanent national security adviser, formalizing an arrangement that began nearly 17 months ago after Mike Waltz was removed from the post.
Rubio announced the decision Tuesday during an interview with Fox News, saying Trump had asked him to continue serving in both positions. "The president asked me to continue to serve as national security adviser, and I'm honored to do it," Rubio said, according to The Hill.
Trump first named Rubio interim national security adviser in May 2025 after removing Waltz, who was subsequently nominated to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. At the time, Trump said Rubio would temporarily lead the National Security Council while maintaining his duties as secretary of State.
The permanent appointment leaves Rubio occupying two of the administration's most influential foreign policy and national security positions. The Hill noted that Henry Kissinger also simultaneously served as secretary of State and national security adviser during the Nixon and Ford administrations in the 1970s.
Rubio's expanded role comes as he remains a prominent figure in speculation about the Republican Party's future leadership. Earlier this month, however, Rubio said he had no plans to run for president in 2028 and reiterated his support for Vice President JD Vance if Vance seeks the Republican nomination.
"If JD Vance runs for president, he's going to be our nominee, and I'll be one of the first people to support him," Rubio told Fox News in an interview published September 10.
Rubio has also continued to publicly defend Trump administration decisions beyond foreign policy. On Monday, he backed the White House decision to bar CNN, Politico and MS NOW journalists from the White House grounds, arguing that news organizations should not have automatic access to government facilities.
The decision to keep Rubio permanently at the National Security Council ends uncertainty over whether Trump would eventually appoint another national security adviser. Rubio will continue leading the State Department while coordinating national security policy from the White House.
