Marco Rubio Cracks Up the Room with Surprise Speech at Leadership Gala [WATCH]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio received the Lifetime Leadership Award at the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) Gala in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening, delivering a speech that combined humor with reflections on public service.

Rubio, who also serves as Acting National Security Advisor, Acting Administrator of USAID, and Archivist of the United States, addressed a packed room of lawmakers, diplomats, and guests.

Humbled to receive @TheCHLI‘s Lifetime Leadership Award last night.

My sincere gratitude to @RosLehtinen, @MarioDB, and the entire CHLI team for the tireless work they lead to empower our nation’s Hispanic American future leaders. pic.twitter.com/U4NftW2YX1

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 8, 2025

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Despite joking that he had not prepared remarks in advance, Rubio’s speech was met with frequent laughter and multiple standing ovations.

Rubio opened by referencing a recent cabinet meeting where he joked about not wanting to eat in front of Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The comment reportedly prompted laughter from President Donald Trump and other cabinet members.

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Florida political reporter Eric Daugherty later posted on X, “Who expected Marco Rubio to make the entire Cabinet room burst out laughing?”

At the gala, Rubio joked about receiving a lifetime award while still in the middle of his career.

“This lifetime achievement award or lifetime leadership award is a little scary because it’s like that’s it, you’re over, it’s done,” Rubio said.

“Usually they give it to you at the end — but because you don’t know what I’m going to do in the next three years, maybe you’ll want the award back in a couple years if things don’t work out. I hope not.”

He also addressed the presence of international guests, including President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic.

“I’m glad that the president of the Dominican Republic is here so he can go back and say, boy, they really like Marco Rubio back in the United States,” Rubio joked.

In describing his multiple official titles, Rubio spoke about the Trump administration’s efforts to consolidate responsibilities in order to improve efficiency across government.

“When I joined the administration early on, they said one of the initiatives that we’re pursuing is to increase efficiency in government,” Rubio said.

“They want to be able to do more while spending less… for example, they said one of the things we want you to look at is consolidation. Can you take, for example, what today are four jobs and just give them all to one person? And I said that sounds like a great idea – we should do that across the government. Little did I know, they just meant me.”

He added, jokingly, “And the surgeon general. No, I’m kidding. I’m not that. I wanted it. I wanted it. You get a uniform. Do you know you get a uniform if you’re a surgeon general? I wanted it but they had given it away. You know what would be good? Library of Congress. That would be a good job.”

Rubio also shared personal stories from his early years, highlighting the importance of representation and mentorship in public life. He reflected on growing up in Miami and seeing people with similar backgrounds reach positions of influence, which encouraged him to pursue his own aspirations in public service.

“One of the things that allowed me as a young person to believe that it was possible for me to have these aspirations was because there were people who sort of, kind of came from the same background I did who were already in those positions,” Rubio said.

“When you see someone who comes from your community and the same background that you came from who now is in those positions… you know what it triggers in your brain? That I could do it too.”

He concluded his remarks by saying, “The next Archivist of the United States of America may be sitting in this audience right now,” prompting more laughter from the crowd.

Rubio’s remarks highlighted his evolving leadership role within the Trump administration and his continued presence as a major figure in national politics.

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