President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he is placing Secretary of State Marco Rubio in charge of the United States’ bid to bring the 2035 World Expo to Miami, adding yet another high-profile assignment to the former Florida senator’s rapidly expanding portfolio.
Trump said Florida has expressed strong interest in hosting the prestigious international event and made clear that he supports Miami as the host city. In a social media post cited by the Associated Press, the president framed the Expo bid as part of a broader vision for national renewal.
“The Great State of Florida has expressed strong interest in hosting the Expo in Miami, which I fully support,” Trump wrote. “Miami Expo 2035 can be the next big milestone in our new Golden Age of America.” Trump added that he is appointing Miami native Marco Rubio to chair the effort to coordinate and advance the bid, calling it an opportunity to convene the world.
The announcement underscores Rubio’s growing prominence within the Trump administration, where he has become a go-to figure for major political and policy initiatives well beyond the traditional scope of the State Department. Online, Rubio’s expanding list of responsibilities has become a running joke, a dynamic Trump himself has leaned into as he continues to entrust the secretary with high-visibility roles.
Earlier this year, on Feb. 3, 2025, the State Department announced that Rubio had been appointed acting administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Less than two weeks later, on Feb. 16, Trump named Rubio acting archivist of the United States in a Truth Social post, while installing Jim Byron to handle day-to-day operations at the National Archives.
That was followed by another significant assignment on May 1, when Trump said Rubio would serve as national security advisor on an interim basis while continuing to lead the State Department. With Thursday’s announcement, Rubio adds yet another line to his résumé, now overseeing the push to secure one of the world’s most prominent international exhibitions for Miami.
The World Expo, held every five years, is a massive global event that brings together countries, corporations, and cultural institutions to showcase innovation, architecture, and national identity. Hosting the Expo is widely seen as both an economic opportunity and a diplomatic statement, making Rubio’s leadership of the bid a natural fit given his background and ties to Florida.
Rubio became secretary of state after leaving the U.S. Senate, a move that set off a reshuffling in Florida politics. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed then-state Attorney General Ashley Moody to fill Rubio’s vacant Senate seat, according to the Associated Press.
Trump’s decision to put Rubio at the center of the Expo bid highlights the administration’s emphasis on Florida as a hub for economic growth and international engagement. It also reflects Trump’s confidence in Rubio’s ability to juggle multiple high-stakes roles while advancing the president’s broader agenda.
With Miami now formally in the mix for the 2035 World Expo and Rubio tasked with leading the charge, the administration is signaling that it sees the event as more than a symbolic prize. Instead, Trump is casting it as a defining moment in what he calls a new era for the country, with Florida and Miami positioned at the forefront of that vision.
