How Marco Rubio Became The Most Powerful Cabinet Member in the Trump Admin: Report

Marco Rubio was once one of President Donald Trump's biggest rivals, with the two exchanging vicious insults questioning the manhood of the other during the 2016 primary season. Almost a decade later, with Trump at the White House, the son of Cuban immigrants has turned into the most powerful member of the Cabinet, accumulating four highly-coveted positions. Here's a look at how he did it.

When the second Trump administration started in January, Rubio, then a Florida Senator, became secretary of state. A little over 100 days later, he has accumulated three other roles— acting head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, acting U.S. National Security Adviser and acting archivist of the National Archives and Records Administration.

"You know what would be good? Library of Congress. That would be a good job," Rubio joked before an audience last week about his expanding list of responsibilities. "And the surgeon general! No, I'm kidding," The Washington Post recalled in a sprawling piece detailing his ascent to power within the Trump administration.

Rubio has approached his various roles with caution, being well aware that four out of the five national security advisers who have served under Trump since 2016 have been pushed out to varying degrees of embarrassment and reputation damaging, the outlet added.

The former lawmaker has, on more than one occasion, empowered ultra-MAGA personalities, showing his loyalty to Trump's cause, which stands in stark contrast with the views he held as a senator and presidential candidate. For instance, his top official for public diplomacy, Darren Beattie, is a Trump favorite who has denied the U.S.-recognized genocide of Uyghurs in China and made other comments out of step with Rubio's long-held beliefs.

Likewise, once a passionate foreign aid advocate, the secretary of state has overseen the dramatic and controversial slashing of USAID, resulting in the closure of health clinics across Africa and the Middle East, the firing of almost all USAID employees, and new forecasts of increasing infectious and communicable diseases in the developing world, actions that have been met with disappointment from some congressmembers, who thought he would be a voice of reason in the administration.

"Some of his former colleagues were hoping he would be the 'adult in the room.' that is a very warped view of our constitutional system," said a senior Rubio aide when talking to the outlet.

Across the aisle, Senate Democrats, who helped confirm him by a vote of 99-0, have been reportedly horrified by Rubio's recent actions.

"Rubio's MAGA brain transplant is complete," said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), who now regrets his vote. "The Marco Rubio that used to talk about the importance of democracy and human rights, freedom of speech as part of American foreign policy has disappeared."

Rubio's rise to power can also be credited to key allies. He has a powerful supporter in White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, a fellow Floridian whose ties to him date back years. She backed him for vice president before Trump settled on JD Vance and also endorsed Rubio to take on the additional role of national security adviser, The Washington Post noted.

The lawmaker has also sought to win over other influential people in Trump's world, including "War Room" podcast host Stephen Bannon and Donald Trump Jr., whose podcast he appeared on last month, as well as MAGA influencer Laura Loomer, whose scrutiny of former national security adviser Michael Waltz led to his ouster.

The Floridian's future power in the administration, and the Republican party, is yet to be determined, though it seems like the Oval Office continues to be his ultimate goal. Recently, President Trump named Rubio as a potential successor, alongside Vice President Vance.

But for now, Rubio plans to continue shaking up Washington's status quo. He is expected to significantly scale down the size of the National Security Council, as well as make a drastic change to how it works. The new operation will be designed to more closely align how it operates with the way the president makes decisions, NBC News reported. Hence, rather than a large staff generating policy recommendations for the president, the idea is to create a version along the lines Trump prefers.

"Secretary Rubio is doing an incredible job serving as both Secretary of State and White House National Security Advisor," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to NBC News. "Under his leadership at the White House, the NSC team will be streamlined to ensure maximum efficiency and coordination with outside agencies."