Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has been picked as President-elect Donald J. Trump‘s Secretary of State. Opposition to the Florida Republican’s nomination has been vocal online. Many MAGA voters and supporters of Trump’s America First agenda are expressing concerns over the senator’s aggressively hawkish foreign policy views, especially regarding the Middle East and the war in Ukraine. The appointment of Rubio as the nation’s top diplomat could undermine Trump’s efforts to end the conflagration of global conflicts that erupted during Joe Biden’s presidency.
The case against Rubio’s nomination as Secretary of State is strong, and one made by the 2024 Trump campaign in their own vetting documents of the senator when he was being considered as a possible vice presidential choice. Early in Trump’s first term in office—and even before—Rubio positioned himself against the America First leader and the MAGA movement. The vetting documents note: “In 2016, Rubio contended that Trump was dangerous and could not be trusted with America’s nuclear codes—a position he continued to hold even after dropping out of the 2016 GOP primary.”
RUSSIA HOAX.
Even more concerning, Rubio enthusiastically supported Robert Mueller’s Russia probe. In 2017, the Florida Republican insisted Mueller would carry out his investigation “in a fair and balanced way.” Subsequently, the allegations that the 2016 Trump campaign colluded with Russia were found to be a hoax, despite Mueller’s refusal to acknowledge this fact.
Additionally, Rubio has repeatedly played into Democratic Party and Deep State smears, claiming Trump is a pawn of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. In 2022, Rubio said it was “unfortunate” that Trump appeared to praise Putin and warned the America First leader should be “careful” with his language.
NEOCON FOREIGN POLICY.
The biggest concerns regarding Rubio’s potential appointment as Secretary of State revolve around his neoconservative foreign policy views. Rubio is a staunch interventionist and has repeatedly indicated he supports U.S. military intervention in Iran with the goal of regime change. While Iran is a regional antagonist to U.S. interests in the Middle East, Trump was able to isolate and ultimately sideline the Islamic regime through sanctions and diplomacy during his first presidential administration—largely avoiding direct conflict.
In addition to Iran, Rubio was a proponent of continued U.S. military involvement in Syria. In 2019, he criticized the Trump administration’s decision to pull U.S. troops from Northern Syria, stating, “…the Trump administration has made a grave mistake that will have implications far beyond Syria.”
As early as 2011, Sen. Rubio backed U.S. military intervention in Libya to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi. Gaddafi was assassinated in late 2011, plunging the country into chaos, which allowed Islamist elements to take control of large swaths of Libya’s territory. The country remains a failed state rife with slavery and a major launchpad for illegal immigration to Europe.
MASS MIGRATION ADVOCATE.
Another concerning aspect of Rubio’s policy views is his support for mass immigration. During the 2024 Senate fight over a so-called border bill—which actually was intended to deliver additional military aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan—Rubio blamed “crazy… MAGA people” for the legislation’s failure.
Rubio also criticized Trump’s efforts to construct a wall along the U.S. southern border. In 2019, Rubio criticized Trump’s plan to declare a national emergency to facilitate completing the wall, stating, “…we have a crisis at our southern border, but no crisis justifies violating the constitution.”
During the 2016 Republican presidential primary, Sen. Rubio—himself seeking the nomination—blasted Trump’s language regarding illegal Mexican immigrants. “Trump’s comments are not just offensive and inaccurate, but also divisive,” the Florida Senator said at the time. Infamously, Rubio was a member of the Senate’s ‘Gang of Eight’ who pushed legislation to grant a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
ORIGINAL NEVER TRUMPER.
Before aligning himself with President-elect Trump, Rubio was one of the original ‘Never Trump’ promoters. The Florida Senator repeatedly pushed ‘Never Trump’ talking points during the 2016 Republican presidential primary, calling Trump a “con man” and accusing him of pulling “the biggest scam in American political history.”
In March of 2016, Rubio accused Trump of promoting political violence and division. He said the America First leader’s candidacy and rhetoric would cause America to be “ripped apart at the seams.” Additionally, Rubio smeared the MAGA movement, calling it a “frightening, grotesque, and disturbing development in American politics.” Rubio’s 2016 presidential campaign website featured a prominent call for his supporters to “Stop Donald Trump.”
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