Marco Rubio Mocked for Speaking Spanish at Latin American Summit

The U.S. Secretary of State's language shift was seen as an attempt to pander to the audience.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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During a meeting of Latin American leaders at a Trump golf course in Miami, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke in flawless Spanish, drawing mockery from President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth. The exchange highlighted Rubio's shifting positions and his willingness to align himself with Trump's hardline policies, even as he has been seen as a rising Latino political figure.

Why it matters

Rubio's transformation from a vocal Trump critic to a loyal supporter has raised questions about his principles and the extent to which he is willing to compromise his values to advance his political career. As the most powerful Latino politician in U.S. history, Rubio's actions are seen as emblematic of the challenges facing the Latino community in asserting its identity and political influence.

The details

At the inaugural meeting of the "Shield of the Americas" coalition, Rubio thanked the attendees in English before praising Trump's "bold leadership" and calling him "one of the most historic figures in American history." When given the chance to speak in Spanish, Rubio did so, saying the group's plans would "make future generations grateful for the work we are doing today." Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth mocked Rubio's language shift, with Hegseth joking "I only speak American."

  • The meeting took place over a weekend dominated by the war with Iran.

The players

Marco Rubio

The U.S. Secretary of State, who has had a long political career in Florida and has been seen as a rising Latino political figure, but has faced criticism for aligning himself with Trump's hardline policies.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. President, who has a history of making derogatory comments about Latinos and immigrants.

Pete Hegseth

The U.S. Secretary of Defense, who mocked Rubio's use of Spanish during the meeting.

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What they’re saying

“I think he's better in Spanish" than in English.”

— Donald Trump

“I only speak American,”

— Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense

“I only speak Cuban.”

— Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

The takeaway

Rubio's transformation from a vocal Trump critic to a loyal supporter has raised questions about his principles and the extent to which he is willing to compromise his values to advance his political career. As the most powerful Latino politician in U.S. history, Rubio's actions are seen as emblematic of the challenges facing the Latino community in asserting its identity and political influence.