The appointment of Marco Rubio as Secretary of State in the new U.S. administration led by Donald Trump serves as a reminder that throughout American history, several Cuban Americans have held significant roles in the presidential Cabinet, reflecting the growing influence of this community in national politics.
Mel Martínez: Born in Cuba, Martínez became the first Cuban American to hold a Cabinet position when President George W. Bush appointed him Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in 2001. He later served as a senator for Florida.
Carlos Gutiérrez, also born in Cuba, was appointed Secretary of Commerce by President George W. Bush, serving in that role from 2005 to 2009.
Alexander Acosta: Of Cuban descent, he was appointed Secretary of Labor by President Donald Trump, serving from 2017 to 2019.
Alejandro Mayorkas: Born in Havana, Mayorkas was appointed Secretary of Homeland Security by then-president-elect Joe Biden in November 2020, becoming the first Latino and first immigrant to lead this department.
Marco Rubio: Born in Miami, he is the son of two Cuban immigrants and has been a Republican senator from Florida since 2011. This Wednesday, he was confirmed by elected President Donald Trump as Secretary of State, making him the highest-ranking Latino in the history of the U.S. government.
These appointments highlight the diversity and contributions of Cuban Americans in the highest echelons of the U.S. government.
They also stand out in other areas. In addition to having Rubio, the Senate has had Texas Republican Ted Cruz since 2013, known for his active participation in legislative debates and his presidential candidacy in 2016.
In the House of Representatives:
Mario Díaz-Balart: Republican Representative for Florida's 25th District since 2003. He has worked on issues related to Cuba policy and national security matters.
Carlos A. Giménez: Republican Representative for Florida's 26th District since 2021. Prior to his election to Congress, he served as the mayor of Miami-Dade County.
María Elvira Salazar: Republican representative for Florida's 27th district since 2021. Before her political career, she was a journalist and news presenter.
Nicole Malliotakis: Republican representative for New York's 11th district since 2021. Of Cuban descent on her mother’s side, she has worked on both local and national issues.
Alex Mooney: Republican representative for West Virginia's 2nd district since 2015. Of Cuban descent on his mother's side, he has served on committees related to financial services.
They have also held other prominent positions:
Eduardo Aguirre: Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) from 2003 to 2005, and later served as ambassador to Spain and Andorra from 2005 to 2009.
Emilio T. González: Director of USCIS from 2005 to 2008. He has also held positions in the private sector and in local government in Miami.
These Cuban Americans have played significant roles in the politics and administration of the United States, contributing to the development and implementation of public policies from their respective positions.
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