Sometimes You Just Need To Laugh
Segment #852
Future historians may argue that the talent assembled within the Trump cabinet was unparalleled by any previous administration, regardless of party affiliation. Given the gravity of current geopolitical and domestic challenges, this level of expertise and competency is seen as essential.
However, media coverage rarely explores the personal side of these officials—most notably, their sense of humor. Within these circles, Marco Rubio is frequently cited as the funniest member of the cabinet. The following piece explores the veracity of that reputation, highlighting both his personal wit and the viral memes he has inspired.
Marco Rubio, currently serving as Secretary of State in President Trump's second-term cabinet (and temporarily holding multiple additional roles such as National Security Advisor and acting head of agencies like USAID and the National Archives), has been publicly dubbed the "funniest guy" in the cabinet by two prominent members: Vice President JD Vance and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
This endorsement gained traction in late 2025 during interviews and events (including around the MAHA Summit), where both praised Rubio's wit in cabinet settings. Vance stated: "My personal vote for funniest person outside the president is probably Marco. He has an incredible sense of humor. He's got great comedic timing." RFK Jr. fully agreed, calling Rubio "the funniest guy in the cabinet" and noting that he "says things that make people belly laugh every Cabinet meeting."
RFK Jr. shared a specific example of Rubio's quick wit: During a discussion where Elon Musk (in his DOGE role) mentioned finding 240,000 people over 114 years old still collecting unemployment, Rubio quipped, "Well, in their defense, it's hard getting a job after 114."
Rubio's humor often features self-deprecation, timely pop-culture or sports references, and deadpan delivery that lightens serious policy discussions without derailing them. Colleagues and media have highlighted him as the "king of the one-liners" who keeps meetings engaging.
Here are documented specific examples from public cabinet meetings, events, and reports in 2025:
"Four jobs" Labor Day quip (August 26, 2025, White House Cabinet meeting): While reporting on administration achievements, Rubio opened with: "This is the most meaningful Labor Day of my life as someone with four jobs." (He was juggling Secretary of State, National Security Advisor, and acting leadership of two other agencies at the time.) The room, including President Trump, erupted in laughter. Rubio later handed off one role (to Russ Vought) and joked about it on X. This self-deprecating nod to overwork resonated as relatable humor.
College football "scourge" and playoffs jokes (same or related 2025 Cabinet meeting): Rubio pivoted from foreign policy praise (calling Trump's achievements "transformational") to lament scheduling weddings on college football Saturdays: "This thing about people getting married on Saturdays during college football season is a scourge, Mr. President. It’s dividing families. I don’t know if we can have an executive order on this. There are seven other months in the year that people can get married." Trump and the cabinet burst out laughing. In a separate football-related bit, as a University of Miami supporter, he joked that if the Hurricanes (10-2, having beaten Notre Dame) got screwed out of the College Football Playoffs, "the whole thing should be scrapped" and Trump would "have to take over."
https://x.com/i/tatus/1962475615572943098
RFK Jr./Tootsie Roll health joke (earlier 2025 Cabinet meeting): Referencing RFK Jr.'s health advocacy and food safety focus, Rubio said: "Everyone around this table [has contributed] at some level. And because of Secretary Kennedy, I'm afraid to eat anything. So in front of him, he said Tootsie Rolls are okay in moderation." The cabinet cracked up.
Oval Office population quip (during a 2025 swearing-in or diplomatic event honoring Sergio Gor/India-related): While praising someone in a crowded room, Rubio deadpanned that there were "almost 1.5 billion people" present (a playful nod to India's population in context). It mixed heart with humor and drew laughs.
Other noted moments: At a swearing-in, Rubio switched to Spanish then immediately followed with a GEICO insurance commercial callback ("I just said I saved a bunch of money by switching to GEICO"), cracking up Vance and others.
Air Force One “blanket ninja” story (shared publicly January 2026, tied to Rubio’s overwork): Fox News host Will Cain recounted on air how Rubio has a signature move on Air Force One: he sneaks into a room, hides under blankets, and pretends to be “just a staffer” so no one catches him napping. Cain’s punchline: “You’ve got two options—give him ANOTHER job… or rip the blankets off!” President Trump cracked up laughing, calling Rubio a “tough cookie.” The anecdote perfectly captures Rubio’s relatable, self-deprecating take on juggling multiple roles.
NIL “conflict of interest” exchange (March 6, 2026, public remarks): Trump playfully roasted Rubio in front of an audience: “Marco has a conflict of interest that he didn’t reveal… because his son is a very good player for a very good college and makes money with NIL! So there’s a serious conflict of interest. But we’ll take him. We waive his conflict.” Trump patted Rubio on the back as the room laughed. Rubio rolled with the joke in classic deadpan fashion, underscoring the light-hearted camaraderie.
Endorsement monetization bit (March 7, 2026): While bragging about his perfect foreign endorsement record (124-0), Trump turned to Rubio and asked, “If I could sell that? Do we have any of our legal people here? Marco’s close enough. Is there a way I can get paid for that, Marco? I would make a lot.” Rubio immediately shot back that it wasn’t a good idea—it’s “an honor to do.” The dry, principled comeback in the middle of Trump’s riff drew laughs and highlighted Rubio’s quick timing.
Grandfather clock deadpan (cabinet-related event, widely reported): Trump bragged that he had “stolen” Rubio’s grandfather clock to furnish the Cabinet Room. When the story came up, Rubio looked over with a straight face and replied, “What clock?” The room erupted—the perfect low-key, self-deprecating pivot that plays into the “overworked but unflappable” persona colleagues love.
https://x.com/i/status/1990825299995513094
Munich speech “firing” reaction (February 19, 2026, inaugural Board of Peace meeting on Gaza reconstruction): After praising Rubio’s strong Munich Security Conference speech (February 14, 2026), Trump joked he “almost terminated his employ” because it was so good that people wondered why Trump himself didn’t deliver it that way. Rubio burst out laughing along with everyone else, showing his ability to take (and enjoy) the ribbing while staying in the moment.
https://x.com/i/status/2024534282686124137
Vance’s on-stage roast of Rubio’s “extra gigs” (U.S. Minerals Ministerial event): JD Vance (who has repeatedly called Rubio the funniest cabinet member outside the president) publicly listed Rubio’s overlapping roles: “not only the Secretary of State, but also the Archivist, official White House florist, and… a number of other gigs.” It was delivered as affectionate humor, underscoring how Rubio’s workload has become running cabinet comedy material.
These examples show Rubio's style: dry, observational, and context-aware—leveraging his Florida roots (college football passion), Cuban-American background, and insider knowledge of administration workloads. It builds camaraderie in high-stakes settings. While humor is subjective, the repeated bipartisan (within the cabinet) acclaim from Vance and RFK Jr.—plus viral clips of meetings—supports why he's viewed this way. No other cabinet member has received comparable public "funniest" endorsements in recent coverage. Rubio's approach appears to humanize the role while delivering results on foreign policy.
Credentials
I haven't been shy about the fact that I've been a Marco Rubio fan from day one, even before he was in the Senate. When he ran for president in 2016, he became the only candidate I'd ever donated to, and in 2024, when Donald Trump chose him to be his secretary of State, I was new here at PJ Media, but I had the honor of breaking that news, and I was so proud.
There's no denying that Rubio's star has risen over the last year. I read comments and hear from people all the time who seem quite surprised that he's so intelligent and competent, and I just smile because I've known that all along. With that in mind, I've been trying to put together a "greatest hits" list of Rubio's biggest moments and accomplishments from the first year (or 14 months) of Trump's second term.
And I do mean greatest hits because creating a definitive list of everything he's done is nearly impossible. He's that good.
Without further adieu, here they are in no particular order. Some are fun. Some are serious. I hope you enjoy them.
1. Unanimous Senate Confirmation - Rubio was one of Trump's first cabinet picks in November 2024, and, perhaps, one of the best ones. He was the first Latino secretary of State, and while I wouldn't normally care about that, in this case, I think it's been important for a number of reasons. Rubio's ability to speak Spanish and express genuine empathy for Hispanic U.S. citizens and our friends and neighbors in Latin America has been so important. If you look at polls, Rubio is one of the most popular politicians in many Latin American countries. I also think that he's essential for attracting more Hispanic voters to the GOP in the future. He was confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate with a 99-0 to vote, and sworn in on January 21, 2025, ready to make history.
2. A Trip to the Western Hemisphere - About a week and a half after he was sworn in, Rubio made his first overseas trip as secretary of State. The fact that he went to Latin America was lost on no one and signaled some of what the Trump administration would prioritize in the year to come: immigration, security, anti-cartel/drug trafficking measures, and removing China's influence from our backyard. He visited Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic. I believe that trip alone set many things in motion, including China's losses at the Panama Canal, a new partnership with El Salvador regarding deportations, and increased security cooperation with Costa Rica. (On a personal note, I'll confess that this trip had a major impact on my life and career. I was still relatively new here at PJ Media, and trying to figure out where I fit in. I wanted to write more about Latin America, but I wasn't sure how well that would go over. I felt like this trip and the smart foreign policy that followed opened the door for me to do so, and I am forever grateful for that. It's amazing when your job doesn't feel like work.)
3. Clapback at Sen. Chris Van Hollen - Rubio's had a lot of viral moments over the past 14 months — I think people are finally realizing he's just as witty as he is smart — but one of the biggest was his response to Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who was, at the time, very obsessed with a guy named Kilmar Abrego Garcia — you know, the alleged gang member and human trafficker who was in the country illegally. The one who the media called "Maryland Dad." In May, Rubio appeared before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to discuss the FY26 Department of State Budget Request. After a seven-minute soliloquy, Van Hollen told Rubio he regretted voting for him. Rubio's response? "Your regret voting for me confirms I’m doing a good job." Rubio also responded to Van Hollen about deportations to El Salvador with this memorable line: "In the case of El Salvador, absolutely. We deported gang members, gang members, including the one you had a margarita with." That exchange was something to watch:
4. The Defense of Western Civilization Speech - Remember in February when Rubio went to the Munich Security Conference and told all the Europeans, "We in America have no interest in being polite and orderly caretakers of the West's managed decline." I still have people tell me how much they loved that speech. It was historic — one that will likely define Rubio's career in the years to come. Here it is if you missed it:
5. Passing the Note to President Trump - We all remember this moment and the iconic pictures that came from it. In October, Trump was heading a roundtable when Rubio came in, passed the president a note, and whispered in his ear. He wanted to inform him that a peace deal in the Middle East was near and have him approve a social media post about it. It was symbolic of the working relationship these two great leaders of our country have and the efforts they've made to bring peace to the world.
6. Four Jobs and a Meme - For a while there, it seemed like Trump was going to give Rubio every job in the Cabinet. Not only was he secretary of State, but he became national security adviser, head of USAID, and even the acting national archivist. In August, Rubio joked during a Cabinet meeting that this was the most significant Labor Day of his lifetime because he had so many jobs. The hardest working man in the Trump administration also became the hardest working meme on the internet. Every time there is a new job to fill, social media users turn to Rubio and that famous picture of him sitting on a sofa in the Oval Office looking as if he's a bit annoyed. Here are some recent ones:
7. Super Long End of the Year Press Conference - One thing you can say about the Trump administration is that they never shy away from the press. Just before Christmas, Rubio did a State Department press conference himself and talked for over two hours. He spoke on everything from Venezuela to Gaza to Ukraine, made jokes about Vladimir Putin, and even took questions in Spanish. It was something to watch.
8. Iran is the "World's Problem." - While the left and the MSM have done their best to spread lies about the conflict in Iran, Rubio has been out there from day one defending it. He's made it clear that this was not some random thing we did because Trump was bored or something. Iran was a an imminent threat, a danger to the entire world, and we're simply taking care of it. "Imagine what these people would do if they had a nuclear weapon. That is an unacceptable risk for the world," he said during the March Cabinet meeting, adding, "By the way, the president's not just doing a favor to the United States and to our people. This is for the world. He defined very clearly on the first night of this operation what the goal was." Honestly, he's had a lot of great media moments over the last few weeks, but my favorite is still when he told George Stephanopoulos that maybe he needed to "write it down" because the ABC host couldn't seem to understand Trump's objectives in Iran, even though Rubio had laid them out like three times in that conversation alone.
9. Shield of the Americas "Friends" Speech - In early March, Trump and Rubio hosted the Shield of the Americas summit — a group of leaders from 12 like-minded countries in the Western Hemisphere came to the U.S. to join a new era of partnership. Trump promised any country willing to help combat the cartels that the United States would have its back. Other cabinet members were there to talk security, energy, and economics. While it wasn't advertised as such, another big goal was to find ways to keep China out of the Americas. So far, there have been numerous successes on all fronts. Rubio gave a brief speech, but the theme was powerful: "We want the world to see that when you're a friend and an ally of the United States, it is a good thing. It's reciprocated." . I believe the productive summit was actually the secretary's idea. Our hemisphere is changing for the better, while other parts of the world decline. Chinese and Russian influence is all over it. Ignoring it for so many years was one of the dumbest things our country has ever done, and the fact that Rubio and Trump are embracing it is so important for the future of all of us.
10. Breaking Down College Football - I'm going to end on a fun note here, but Rubio took his sons to the College Football Playoff National Championship in Miami earlier this year, where he pulled for the University of Miami Hurricanes (that's also where he went to law school), and before the game, Clay Travis interviewed him on the field. Everyone was amazed that he's not just a foreign policy expert — he also knows football. Like really, really well. I would totally listen to a weekly sports talk radio show broadcast from the State Department.