President Donald Trump announced that the United States will submit a bid to host World Expo 2035, assigning Secretary of State Marco Rubio to lead the coordination effort. The story was first highlighted by Fox News, with Trump framing the move as a major international opportunity for the country.
The announcement was made via social media, where Trump expressed support for Florida’s interest in hosting the event in Miami. He described the potential Expo as a milestone for what he called a new Golden Age of America, similar to other recent administration developments noted in coverage of Trump declaring progress on Russia and Ukraine, but Zelensky’s response suggests otherwise, which engaged international audiences. He emphasized the global attention and investment the event could bring to the region.
Trump also confirmed that Rubio will chair the coordinating efforts for the bid, tasking him with managing the diplomatic and logistical process. The president said Rubio would be responsible for convening international partners and steering the overall bid, citing his experience and Miami ties as assets for the role.
The World Expo bid comes with global competition
World Expos, formally known as International Registered Exhibitions, are large-scale international events designed to bring countries together around a central theme focused on global challenges. The Bureau International des Expositions oversees the selection and organization of these expos, which typically run for several months and attract millions of visitors, amid a broader international landscape that has also seen attention on ICE’s “Catch of the Day” operation. These events often involve extensive infrastructure development, tourism growth, and long-term economic impact for the host city and country.
The scale of the event is significant, as demonstrated by the upcoming 2025 Expo in Osaka Kansai, Japan, which is expected to draw more than 29 million visitors between April 13 and October 13. Hosting an Expo often involves extensive infrastructure development, tourism growth, and long-term economic impact for the host city and country.
Trump pointed to economic benefits as a key motivation for the bid, stating that hosting the Expo would create jobs and stimulate growth. He referenced previous efforts during his first term to secure the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics for the United States, events that will take place during his current presidency.
The competition for the 2035 Expo is already taking shape, with Egypt expressing interest and highlighting its new administrative capital as a potential site. South Korea is also considering a bid after losing out on the 2030 Expo, with Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon indicating discussions with the central government and local residents about a possible proposal.
Before a decision on 2035 is made, the next World Expo will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2030 under the theme Foresight For Tomorrow, focusing on transformational technology and sustainable solutions. The outcome of the 2035 bidding process will determine whether the United States joins that global lineup as a future host.
Published: Jan 22, 2026 07:00 pm