Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a rare personal glimpse into his life beyond diplomacy during an appearance on Lara Trump’s Fox News program “My View with Lara Trump” on Saturday night, discussing everything from his family dynamics to his dream day off watching college football.
The interview provided a departure from typical foreign policy discussions, with Trump steering the conversation toward the person behind the political figure. According to PJ Media, which covered the interview, Rubio addressed how he has evolved through different stages of his political career, from senator to presidential candidate to his current role leading the State Department.
“I think everybody – you go through life, right? And as you go through life you learn new things, you see things you hadn’t seen before, you hear things you haven’t heard before,” Rubio said. “Certainly, I am a different person at 55 than I was at 25 or even 35 because I have 20 and 30 years of experience in between – in life and in work – that inform that.”
The Viral Meme
Trump also brought up the now-famous meme featuring Rubio slumped on a sofa in the Oval Office, which has circulated widely on social media. The secretary revealed he initially disliked the photograph that spawned countless internet jokes.
“When it first came out, I hated that picture,” Rubio admitted. He explained that sitting on that particular sofa without a pillow causes people to sink into it. While he doesn’t closely follow the meme’s evolution, he acknowledged that people frequently show it to him and said he finds it funny.
Family and Work-Life Balance
When asked about balancing his demanding role with family life, Rubio said the challenge has actually become easier in recent years. With children now aged 26, 24, 21, and 18 – the youngest having just graduated high school – they are focused on their own careers and education.
“So, it’s the second phase of that relationship, I guess, after all these years,” he said of spending more time with his wife now that their children are grown.
Rubio described the unique pressures of serving in the Trump administration, where the president is known for his limited sleep schedule. He emphasized the importance of finding ways to disconnect from work, whether through watching movies or sporting events, though he acknowledged such plans are frequently disrupted.
“It’s much harder when you’re in this role and in this job, because the world isn’t going to stop and wait for you,” Rubio explained. “Like, you may have made a plan tonight to watch a movie, but in the middle of that movie something blows up somewhere in the world, and you’ve got to know about it and you may have to do something about it.”
A Football Fan’s Dream
When Trump asked what he would do with a full week off without anyone having access to him, Rubio’s initial response revealed his dedication to the role: “If I had a full week off, I’d be wondering what was going on.”
But pressed to imagine a scenario where he could stop the world and ensure nothing required his attention, Rubio revealed his true passion. “Well, my wife’s going to hate this answer, but I’d love to sit down and watch, like, every college football game starting at noon Eastern until one – when the West Coast games end at 2:00 a.m. our time Eastern,” he said. “I’d love to be able to do that at least one weekend. I doubt I’ll be able to do that anytime soon.”
The Florida native is known as a devoted fan of both the Florida Gators and the Miami Dolphins, and he expressed hope that he’ll manage to catch at least a few games during the upcoming fall season.
Despite the round-the-clock nature of his position, Rubio characterized the role as fulfilling. “It’s harder, but it’s not forever, and it’s fulfilling to be in that role,” he said, acknowledging that the demanding schedule is a temporary phase of his career.
Source: pjmedia.com — https://pjmedia.com/sarah-anderson/2026/08/02/what-does-he-do-on-a-day-off-marco-rubio-gets-personal-n4955714
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