Daniella Rubio, a third-year law student at the University of Virginia, created a touching moment on Friday as she introduced her father, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, at the National Lawyers Convention of the Federalist Society held in Washington D.C.
The moment was captured in a video broadcast by Fox News, showing Daniella confidently taking the stage to introduce "the 72nd Secretary of State of the United States, my father, Marco Rubio." The 23-year-old displayed no signs of nervousness in front of the packed audience gathered at the Mayflower Hotel.
Visibly proud, Rubio reacted immediately with an exclamation to the audience: "Was that cool or what?"
The Secretary of State took the opportunity to humorously reflect on how family dynamics evolve over time, saying, "I used to bring my kids on stage to show them off; now they're the ones introducing me."
What caught everyone's attention was the confidence with which his daughter handled the microphone. "She has no stage fright, she's not afraid of public speaking," Rubio noted, then confessed something that drew laughter from the crowd: "I don't really like public speaking much, but she loves it. I don't know where she got it from."
Daniella is the second of four children that Rubio has with his wife, Jeanette Dousdebes Rubio, whom he married in 1998.
The family has been in the public eye frequently in recent months; in fact, Rubio's flights to attend his son Anthony's football games—he plays as a running back for the Florida Gators—sparked media controversy just days ago.
The family episode occurred during the 25th National Lawyers Conference of the Federalist Society, held from November 12 to 14 under the theme "250 Years of American Exceptionalism," coinciding with the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Rubio's speech was part of the 25th Barbara K. Olson Memorial Lecture—honoring the lawyer who perished in the September 11, 2001 attacks—entitled "Enemies in War, in Peace Friends."
In his address, the Secretary of State discussed national sovereignty, criticized the ideological use of international law, and warned about organizations that, in his view, aim to subordinate countries' wills to unelected judges and international bureaucrats.
Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants who arrived in the United States in 1956, was confirmed as the 72nd Secretary of State on January 20, 2025, with 99 Senate votes in favor and none against.
The video of the father-daughter moment garnered nearly 40,000 views within hours, making Daniella's introduction one of the most talked-about episodes aside from the political content of the conference.
Frequently Asked Questions About Marco Rubio's National Lawyers Convention Appearance
Who is Daniella Rubio?
Daniella Rubio is the daughter of Secretary of State Marco Rubio and a third-year law student at the University of Virginia.
What was the theme of the 25th National Lawyers Conference?
The theme of the 25th National Lawyers Conference was "250 Years of American Exceptionalism," commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence.
What topics did Marco Rubio discuss in his speech?
In his speech, Marco Rubio discussed national sovereignty, the ideological use of international law, and concerns about organizations aiming to impose control over nations through unelected judges and international bureaucrats.