Holding elected office can be a tiresome and thankless business. Half the country may despise an official because of the letter beside his name, while plenty of supporters complain that he is not doing enough, as reported [1] by Fox News.
For Republicans, the burden comes with another familiar problem. Much of the mainstream media appears ready to pile on whenever a conservative official makes even the slightest misstep, or when reporters believe they have found something that can be packaged as one.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is the latest target of that routine. The Washington Post published an article Wednesday seeking to shame Rubio over his use of military aircraft while attending football games involving his son.
Marco Rubio’s personal travel appears to significantly outpace that of his predecessors, former State Department officials said.
The flights have cost the government more than $1.2 million, The Post found, using Defense Department-published rates. https://t.co/l5tlAlGyLe
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 11, 2026 [2]
The supposed scandal lands with considerably less force once the relevant government protocol enters the picture. According to one of Rubio’s assistants, the secretary is required to use military aircraft as part of those protocols.
Rubio has traveled extensively in connection with his government duties. His recent schedule has included a much publicized trip to Greece last month and an appearance at the G7 summit in Paris.
The Post focused instead on Rubio attending games played by the Florida Gators, whose roster includes his son, Anthony. Anthony Rubio joined the team in 2023 as a preferred walk-on running back and has appeared in several games.
Anthony also scored a touchdown during the Gators’ Gasparilla Bowl appearance in December 2024. For a father, watching his son score for a Power 4 college football team is the sort of family moment that hardly requires a lengthy explanation.
Rubio was photographed before the Florida Gators played the South Florida Bulls at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida, on Sept. 6, 2025. He was also photographed during warmups before the Florida Gators played the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Oct. 31, 2026.
The Post’s effort did not go unanswered. The article received a Community Note, and one of Rubio’s assistants responded by pointing directly to the protocol requiring Rubio to use military aircraft.
The aide also made clear that Rubio has no intention of apologizing for attending family events whenever his demanding schedule permits. The response was blunt, personal and far more compelling than the attempted media scolding.
“Sec. Rubio is entirely unapologetic and will continue to attend as many of his family’s events as his job allows— that includes his son’s football games for his final year of college football.”
1. The Secretary of State (like POTUS, VP, SecWar, and others) is REQUIRED to use military aircraft to maintain access to secure communications at all times and comply with continuity of government protocols.
2. @SecRubio is entirely unapologetic and will continue to attend as many of his family’s events as his jobs allow— that includes his son’s football games for his final year of college football.
3. Mandated travelers, including @SecRubio reimburse the government for all personal travel.
4. It’s moronic to compare the Secretary of State to Pete Buttigieg, who was Transportation Secretary — and not a required user of military aircraft.
5. The Post’s own story quotes watchdogs saying this isn’t a story and there’s nothing here.
— Dylan Johnson (@ASDylanJohnson) November 11, 2026 [3]
That statement neatly dispatches the notion that Rubio should act ashamed for watching his son play college football. The assistant did not retreat, offer excuses or indulge the premise that a father attending his son’s games is somehow improper.
The response especially resonated with the article’s author as a father, Florida Gators fan, and Republican. He wrote that if he were fortunate enough to be in Rubio’s position and able to travel to his son’s games aboard a military jet, he would take full advantage of the opportunity.
Rubio was also praised as one of the hardest-working members of the Trump administration. His numerous responsibilities have even inspired memes joking about the different hats he wears, a reflection of how often he appears across major diplomatic and political matters.
The attempted controversy therefore boils down to Rubio following government travel protocols while making room for his family when his job allows it. If that means traveling to Gainesville on a Saturday to watch his son carry the football against FAU, neither Rubio nor his assistant is apologizing.
The Washington Post tried to turn a father attending his son’s football games into a political embarrassment. Instead, Rubio’s team answered with the applicable protocol and a straightforward promise that he will keep showing up for his family whenever possible.