Trump Taps Rubio for Epic Miami Expo Bid: America Aims for Golden Age

Paul Riverbank, 1/23/2026Trump taps Rubio to spearhead Miami’s Expo 2035 bid—big ambitions, fierce competition ahead.

Trump’s message wasn’t short on flair. “The great state of Florida,” he wrote, touting Miami’s global reputation for both culture and commerce, then dubbing the city’s hopes as “the next big milestone in our new Golden Age of America.” The line gave supporters something to rally around and, perhaps, offered a not-so-subtle campaign hook as well.

But what really set Washington chattering was the surprise appointment attached to the bid. Trump revealed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio—a Miami native—would spearhead America’s charge for the Expo. In the past year alone, Rubio has expanded his portfolio in unusual directions: he’s the acting national security adviser, the secretary of state, the temporary head of USAID, and, perhaps most bizarrely, the standing archivist. Now, the administration is leaning on his hometown roots and diplomatic profile to add credibility to the Miami bid. So far Rubio hasn’t addressed the assignment publicly, but online speculation suggests his local ties could carry weight with Expo decision-makers.

For those outside the international events circuit, the World Expo may sound like a relic of state fairs or world’s fairs past, but the numbers tell a different story. The last event in Osaka pulled in more than 29 million visitors and gave participating nations a platform for everything from AI breakthroughs to sustainability showcases. Beyond the spectacle, expos are opportunities for public diplomacy and, of course, big business.

Looking ahead, Riyadh will play host in 2030 with a theme focused on technology and environmental stewardship. Miami, if it lands the Expo five years on, faces competitors with equally strong credentials—Berlin, San Francisco, and possibly Busan and Cairo, depending on which bids coalesce. Each city touts a vision for innovation, jobs, and tourism dollars flowing into local economies.

Trump’s case for Miami zeroed in on the economic upside, promising “thousands of jobs” and “billions in growth.” He placed the Expo bid alongside a list of other high-visibility events stacking up on the US calendar: World Cup matches in 2026, the LA Olympics in 2028, America’s 250th birthday, the G7 and G20 summits. These ambitions align with Trump’s broader narrative of American resurgence on the world stage, and—at least on the surface—signal an embrace of global engagement, albeit on his own terms.

Yet, policy contradictions cropped up as Trump fielded questions abroad last week. On a stop in Davos, Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo pressed the president on his economic philosophy, singling out recent government interventions: an $8.8 billion move to take an equity stake in Intel, clampdowns on defense industry stock buybacks, new rules preventing private equity firms from gobbling up single-family homes. “Is this free market capitalism?” she pressed.

Trump, rarely one to linger in doctrinal debates, responded with characteristic bluntness. He brushed off the criticism—“It’s very free market,” he insisted—but then turned the conversation: when national security or critical supply chains are at stake, he argued, government stepping in is not just justified, it’s essential. “When we need tomahawks, I want them within 24 hours,” he said, making clear he views efficiency as a test of patriotism as much as of market logic.

Back in Miami, officials and boosters are wasting little time. Several civic leaders began rallying support for the city’s bid within hours of Trump’s post, and immigration and infrastructure were immediately flagged as likely sticking points. Even within the optimism—there’s already talk of new construction, increased tourism, and high-profile partnerships—there’s a recognition of the hurdles: Berlin and San Francisco aren’t minor-league competitors, and the Bureau International des Expositions makes its decisions on a mix of high diplomacy and back-room alliances.

So, can Miami lock it down? The answer will depend on more than presidential proclamations. It’ll require coalition-building both at home and abroad, deft handling of competing interests, and, as always, the capacity to turn glossy pitches into reality. With Rubio leading the charge—and Trump promising a spectacle fitting his political style—the contest is officially underway.

No one doubts that the stakes are as high as the pageantry that comes with every Expo. For now, the only certainty is that Miami, already a crossroads of the Americas, will be in global view as the US tries to secure the biggest world’s fair stage of the decade—and, if Trump gets his way, another chapter in his version of American revival.

It’s not every day a White House announcement doubles as a pitch for the World Expo, but Donald Trump’s latest move grabbed headlines and plenty of commentary. Logging onto his social media account Tuesday, the president declared the United States is officially in the running to host Expo 2035—and he wants Miami as the host city.Trump’s message wasn’t short on flair. “The great state of Florida,” he wrote, touting Miami’s global reputation for both culture and commerce, then dubbing the city’s hopes as “the next big milestone in our new Golden Age of America.” The line gave supporters something to rally around and, perhaps, offered a not-so-subtle campaign hook as well.But what really set Washington chattering was the surprise appointment attached to the bid. Trump revealed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio—a Miami native—would spearhead America’s charge for the Expo. In the past year alone, Rubio has expanded his portfolio in unusual directions: he’s the acting national security adviser, the secretary of state, the temporary head of USAID, and, perhaps most bizarrely, the standing archivist. Now, the administration is leaning on his hometown roots and diplomatic profile to add credibility to the Miami bid. So far Rubio hasn’t addressed the assignment publicly, but online speculation suggests his local ties could carry weight with Expo decision-makers.For those outside the international events circuit, the World Expo may sound like a relic of state fairs or world’s fairs past, but the numbers tell a different story. The last event in Osaka pulled in more than 29 million visitors and gave participating nations a platform for everything from AI breakthroughs to sustainability showcases. Beyond the spectacle, expos are opportunities for public diplomacy and, of course, big business.Looking ahead, Riyadh will play host in 2030 with a theme focused on technology and environmental stewardship. Miami, if it lands the Expo five years on, faces competitors with equally strong credentials—Berlin, San Francisco, and possibly Busan and Cairo, depending on which bids coalesce. Each city touts a vision for innovation, jobs, and tourism dollars flowing into local economies.Trump’s case for Miami zeroed in on the economic upside, promising “thousands of jobs” and “billions in growth.” He placed the Expo bid alongside a list of other high-visibility events stacking up on the US calendar: World Cup matches in 2026, the LA Olympics in 2028, America’s 250th birthday, the G7 and G20 summits. These ambitions align with Trump’s broader narrative of American resurgence on the world stage, and—at least on the surface—signal an embrace of global engagement, albeit on his own terms.Yet, policy contradictions cropped up as Trump fielded questions abroad last week. On a stop in Davos, Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo pressed the president on his economic philosophy, singling out recent government interventions: an $8.8 billion move to take an equity stake in Intel, clampdowns on defense industry stock buybacks, new rules preventing private equity firms from gobbling up single-family homes. “Is this free market capitalism?” she pressed.Trump, rarely one to linger in doctrinal debates, responded with characteristic bluntness. He brushed off the criticism—“It’s very free market,” he insisted—but then turned the conversation: when national security or critical supply chains are at stake, he argued, government stepping in is not just justified, it’s essential. “When we need tomahawks, I want them within 24 hours,” he said, making clear he views efficiency as a test of patriotism as much as of market logic.Back in Miami, officials and boosters are wasting little time. Several civic leaders began rallying support for the city’s bid within hours of Trump’s post, and immigration and infrastructure were immediately flagged as likely sticking points. Even within the optimism—there’s already talk of new construction, increased tourism, and high-profile partnerships—there’s a recognition of the hurdles: Berlin and San Francisco aren’t minor-league competitors, and the Bureau International des Expositions makes its decisions on a mix of high diplomacy and back-room alliances.So, can Miami lock it down? The answer will depend on more than presidential proclamations. It’ll require coalition-building both at home and abroad, deft handling of competing interests, and, as always, the capacity to turn glossy pitches into reality. With Rubio leading the charge—and Trump promising a spectacle fitting his political style—the contest is officially underway.No one doubts that the stakes are as high as the pageantry that comes with every Expo. For now, the only certainty is that Miami, already a crossroads of the Americas, will be in global view as the US tries to secure the biggest world’s fair stage of the decade—and, if Trump gets his way, another chapter in his version of American revival.