Nate Hochman, an official within the State Department and chief speechwriter for Senator Marco Rubio, was previously dismissed from the Ron DeSantis 2024 presidential campaign in 2023 following a controversy involving the promotion of a video containing neo-Nazi imagery. Hochman now serves as deputy director of the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff, an influential office tasked with providing strategic policy advice and articulating U.S. diplomatic priorities. His role as Senator Rubio's chief speechwriter was confirmed by an email signature reviewed by The New York Times.
"Nate Hochman is a trusted and key member of the department who has worked tirelessly to advance the president’s foreign policy agenda." Tommy Pigott, State Department Spokesman
The appointment places Hochman in a significant position within the Trump administration, where he contributes to the messaging of a high-ranking official and works within an office integral to U.S. foreign policy development. His current government role marks a notable return to prominence after the 2023 incident, which at the time appeared to have jeopardized his political career.
The controversy that led to Hochman's dismissal from the DeSantis campaign involved his reposting of a video that concluded with the Florida state seal transforming into a Sonnenrad, or Black Sun. This symbol is widely recognized and adopted by neo-Nazi and white supremacist movements. Hochman publicly denied producing the video, stating that he removed his repost immediately upon discovering the symbol's offensive connotations. He also affirmed that he alerted his supervisors to the issue. Despite these actions, the controversy ultimately resulted in his termination from the campaign. The New York Times reported that Hochman later declined to identify the video's producers or distributors, citing concerns about implicating friends.
This incident was not Hochman's only prior association with figures from the far right. He had also participated in an online conversation with white nationalist Nick Fuentes. During this exchange, Hochman told Fuentes that he had gotten “a lot of kids based,” while also cautioning that Fuentes's provocative rhetoric limited his political effectiveness. Hochman later clarified his comments, asserting that he was attempting to engage Fuentes and regretted any remarks that might have suggested agreement. He stated, "I said some really stupid things, which I don’t actually believe," adding that he fundamentally disagreed with Fuentes's worldview.
Following his departure from the DeSantis campaign, Hochman joined America 2100, a conservative organization founded by Michael Needham, who previously served as Senator Rubio's Senate chief of staff. He subsequently moved to Capitol Hill, where he worked as a policy adviser for Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri). Hochman left this position earlier this year before transitioning to the State Department.
Federal records reviewed by The New York Times indicate that Hochman was listed as a senior adviser in the State Department’s Office of the Counselor by June. He later assumed the role of deputy director of Policy Planning and has been serving as Senator Rubio’s speechwriter since at least July, according to documentation reviewed by the newspaper. The specific speeches drafted by Hochman for Senator Rubio remain undisclosed.
The State Department has publicly defended Hochman amid renewed scrutiny of his political background. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott released a statement affirming Hochman's standing within the department. “Nate Hochman is a trusted and key member of the department who has worked tirelessly to advance the president’s foreign policy agenda,” Pigott stated.
The Policy Planning Staff, where Hochman now holds a leadership position, is historically significant. Established in 1947 under Secretary of State George Marshall, the office is responsible for advising the Secretary of State on broad strategic issues and for formulating long-term approaches to U.S. foreign policy. Its role as an internal source of policy analysis and recommendations for the department’s leadership underscores the importance of Hochman's current responsibilities. His trajectory from campaign dismissal to a key role in shaping foreign policy messaging represents a notable professional rebound.
