President Trump endorses online joke suggesting Rubio could become “president of Cuba,” underscoring the Secretary of State’s expanding role in the administration.

President Donald Trump expressed approval of a social media post suggesting Secretary of State Marco Rubio might become “president of Cuba,” responding with “Sounds good to me” on his Truth Social platform Sunday. The exchange highlights the growing online phenomenon of jokes about Rubio’s expanding portfolio within the Trump administration.

Rubio, who is of Cuban descent, already holds multiple official positions in the administration, serving simultaneously as Secretary of State, National Security Advisor, and Acting Archivist of the United States. Until recently, he also served as acting administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) before the agency was largely dismantled, with its remaining functions absorbed into the State Department during a major reorganization completed in July.

The Secretary has emerged as one of the administration’s most trusted officials, with his influence extending across foreign policy, national security, and government operations. This consolidation of power has spawned a viral internet meme on social media platform X, where users have taken to creating AI-generated images depicting Rubio in increasingly absurd fictional roles.

These digitally altered images portray Rubio as everything from the Shah of Iran and president of Venezuela to the manager of Manchester United soccer club. The joke format typically includes the phrase “realizing” followed by an imagined new responsibility, playing on Rubio’s seemingly ever-expanding list of duties within the administration.

The meme originated from a genuine photo of Rubio at a White House meeting that has since been repurposed countless times. Rather than distancing himself from the jokes, Rubio has embraced the humor, joining in with his own witty responses.

Last week, Rubio quipped on X that despite the vacant head coach and general manager positions with the Miami Dolphins NFL team, he would not be pursuing those roles. “While you never know what the future may bring right now my focus must remain on global events and also the precious archives of the United States of America,” he wrote, playfully referencing his existing government responsibilities.

The jokes about Rubio potentially becoming “president of Cuba” carry particular significance given the administration’s hardline stance toward the Cuban government and Rubio’s own Cuban-American heritage. His parents emigrated from Cuba to the United States in 1956, before Fidel Castro came to power, and Rubio has been a consistent critic of the Cuban regime throughout his political career.

The viral nature of these jokes comes amid Rubio’s ongoing work to reshape the State Department. He has spearheaded a massive reorganization effort that reportedly eliminated or merged more than 300 offices within the department, marking one of the most significant overhauls of U.S. diplomatic infrastructure in recent history.

While the online humor about Rubio’s expanding roles has provided levity, it also underscores the significant influence he wields within the Trump administration. As a key advisor on Latin American policy, Rubio has been instrumental in shaping the administration’s approach to countries like Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.

The President’s playful endorsement of the “Rubio as president of Cuba” joke on social media represents just the latest instance of the administration’s engagement with internet culture, while simultaneously highlighting the trust placed in Rubio as a central figure in Trump’s foreign policy team.