Washington Post Estimates Rubio's Flights to Son's Florida Football Games Cost Over $1.2 Million

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has flown on government aircraft to Gainesville, Florida, at least 23 times since taking office, 15 of them classified by the State Department as personal, at an estimated cost to taxpayers of more than $1.2 million, according to a Washington Post investigation published Wednesday. The trips are tied to University of Florida football, where Rubio's son Anthony is a walk-on running back. The Post found Rubio attended at least 10 games in the last two seasons, including five this fall. He most recently arrived on an Air Force C-37 on 7 November, when the Gators lost 23-7.

Rubio is barred from flying commercially for security reasons, a restriction that also covers the defense secretary, attorney general and the CIA and FBI heads. He must reimburse the cost of an economy ticket for each personal trip. The Post calculated its figure by applying the Defense Department's published hourly rates to flight hours. Former department officials told the paper Rubio takes personal trips far more often than previous secretaries of state.

The New Republic and The Guardian, on the left, lead with the $1.2 million figure and the frequency of the trips. They cite the Post's finding that his use of government aircraft appears to significantly outpace his predecessors'. The New Republic adds that Anthony Rubio has played in only four games in four years and that reimbursements are rarely public and cover little of the true cost. The Guardian adds that ethics watchdogs question the necessity of the trips. The Daily Wire, on the right, mocks the Post's account as a spy thriller and leads with the security rules. It cites a 1993 White House memo and the State Department's statement that he needs secure communications. It argues the $1.2 million is only an estimate built from Pentagon rates, not an itemized account of added costs. Both sides accept that the flights occurred and that Rubio must reimburse economy fares. They differ on whether the figure and the frequency are a spending concern or a security-driven routine. The Times of India closely echoes the left's framing.