Rubio’s Military Flights to Son’s Games Top $1.2 Million, WaPo Says

On Nov. 7, an Air Force C-37 landed at Gainesville Regional Airport carrying Marco Rubio. He was later on the field as the University of Florida Gators lost 23-7 to Oklahoma. His son Anthony, a walk-on running back, did not play, the Washington Post reported.

The newspaper said Rubio has attended at least 10 Gators games over two seasons, including five this fall. The State Department confirmed the figures.

Military Jets and Costs

Rubio has flown to Gainesville on government aircraft at least 23 times since taking office last year, the Post found, 15 of them solely personal. Using Defense Department rates, it calculated the flights have cost more than $1.2 million.

He mainly used C-37A and C-37B jets, billed at about $9,100 an hour, and on three trips a C-32A, billed at about $18,600 an hour. Flights often go via Homestead Air Reserve Base to Gainesville.

Former officials said his personal travel “appears to significantly outpace that of his predecessors.” Antony Blinken did so “only a couple of times a year.”

Son’s Role at Florida

Anthony Rubio has played in only four competitive games in four years. ESPN lists 14 career carries and 75 yards.

Rubio defended the visits. “I have and will continue to try and make it to as many events that are important to me personally and to my family as possible,” he said.

The visits come as he faces questions about his future after the midterms and was in Paris this week for G7 talks.

Rules and Official Response

Like the defense secretary and the FBI and CIA directors, Rubio is barred from commercial flights and must use government aircraft even for personal travel. He is required to repay only an economy-class fare.

The Post estimated that at about $18,000. Rubio and the State Department declined to give a figure.

Ethics experts said the travel complies with federal rules but “raises a question about stewardship of public money.”

Separately, The Washington Post reported that Under Secretary of State Sarah B. Rogers disclosed a $11,900 group trip paid for by Stripe co-founder Patrick Collison.

Cynthia Brown of the watchdog CREW called it “more of an optics issue than a violation.” “If this travel becomes something that is undermining the integrity of your service, are you really taking care of taxpayer dollars the way that you’re obligated to as a public official?” she said.

In 2023, then-Senator Rubio sought a review of Pete Buttigieg’s government flights, writing that “American taxpayers deserve assurances that their tax dollars are not wasted by the government’s highest officials.” An inspector general later cleared Buttigieg; eight trips cost $59,000.

Dylan Johnson, an assistant secretary of state, called the comparison “moronic,” saying the secretary of state must use military aircraft for secure communications. He said Rubio would reimburse “for all personal travel” and was “entirely unapologetic.”