Sen. Rubio Finds His Native American Roots

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is part of a big reveal on the popular PBS show "Finding Your Roots" on Wednesday night — discovering a link to his Native American ancestors.

In a preview clip for the show, host Henry Louis Gates Jr. tells Rubio an ancestor on his mother's side was "pure Native American."   

Gates also explained how the particular set of Native Americans Rubio is descended from migrated through the Yucatan Peninsula, a stretch of modern-day Mexico near Cuba, as early as 4,000 B.C.

"Talk about ancestral roots in Cuba . . . your family on your mother's side has been there a long, long time," Gates tells him.

A surprised Rubio responds he has visited ruins in the area, including Chichén Itzá, before remarking, "Who knew I was going back home?"

In his own tweet, Rubio hinted of more revelations on the episode, including a "famous distant relative." 

"My Native American heritage was an amazing discovery," Rubio tweeted. "But you forgot one of the most surprising discoveries, my famous distant relative! I will have to break the bad news to him myself."

Former House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., was also a show guest Tuesday, discovering his Jewish roots.

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