Swift Ascent of Marco Rubio Within Trump's Inner Circle
Marco, fresh off his new gig as Secretary of State, found himself in a bit of a pickle. Three senior administration officials revealed that he was left in the dark when it came to two major policy decisions made by Washington—changes to foreign aid and Trump's plan to turn Gaza into a swanky Middle Eastern vacation spot.
But ol' Marco didn't let frustration get the best of him. He crafted a clever strategy to avoid future blindsides. First up, he tweaked some of his foreign policy positions to better align with Trump's. You gotta kiss the ring if ya wanna play the game.
Next, he went all-in on the MAGA vibe, wooing Trump loyalists with hangouts at Capitol Hill hotspots and appearing at rallies hosted by pro-Trump activist groups. He also racked up some quality time at the White House to keep his finger on the pulse of Trump's ever-changing agenda.
As for his new digs in the West Wing, he's made do with an empty office for calls when swinging by the White House. But he's a regular down at Trump’s Florida retreat, Mar-a-Lago, where decisions get made over dinner and rounds of golf.
Trump, taking note of Marco's efforts to play ball, recently promoted him to a double-duty combo—Secretary of State and National Security Advisor. Just like ol' Henry Kissinger, but for the 21st century.
It's been a rocky road at times, with Marco's past exchanges of barbs with Trump leaving him on shaky ground with the Trump base. But Marco's been hustling to prove his loyalty by aligning with Trump's "America First" policy and courting MAGA supporters.
In the end, Marco's stick-to-it-iveness and knack for navigating the Trump administration have paid off. He's become a go-to guy for Trump, with foreign diplomats taking note of his growing influence. Sources close to Marco say he's never been happier.
However, there have been bumps along the way. Marco's attempts to hire more of his own staff at the State Department have been thwarted by the White House personnel office—with loyalists to Trump taking priority. And sometimes, he's been left out of the loop on decisions, creating tension with the National Security Council. But Marco, like the hustler he is, is far from deterred.
A whirlwind first three months
Marco's confirmation vote in the Senate sailed through, with a 99-0 landslide—the largest margin for any of Trump's Cabinet nominees. But his hot-tempered exchanges with Trump during the 2016 campaign sparked wariness among Trump's Republican base. And the dynamic between them is different than that of other key advisors. In Trump's White House, access to Trump is critical, and Rubio had to work hard to get in the door.
Rubio hasn't scored a dedicated workspace in the West Wing—that went to Waltz. Instead, he's been making do with random offices for calls and catching up with other officials on the fly. Marco, aware of the importance of face time, has become a regular at Mar-a-Lago, spending time there nearly every other week.
Winning over the MAGA base
Many of Trump's loyalists know Marco by Trump's old nickname for him, "Little Marco." They've viewed him as a mainstream Republican who might try to reshape rather than execute on Trump's foreign policy agenda. To ease any suspicions, Marco has been wooing Trump's MAGA base and seeking their acceptance.
This week, Marco was spotted at MAGA hotspot Butterworth’s on Capitol Hill. Raheem Kassam, a Trump loyalist and close associate of former top White House strategist Steve Bannon, posted a picture of Marco at the restaurant.
“If you'd have told me even a year ago that I'd be running the best spot on Capitol Hill and that Marco Rubio, as Secretary of State, would be a repeat guest, I'd have enquired as to the strength of marijuana you were smoking," Kassam wrote.
Rubio also made a point to attend a ball hosted by the pro-Trump group Turning Point USA during the inauguration and appeared on Donald Trump Jr.'s podcast in early April.
Since he became Secretary of State, Marco has started toeing the MAGA line throughout various policies—from Ukraine to foreign aid to immigration. Sources close to Marco say this shift wasn't a sudden change upon taking the job, but rather an effort to connect the Republican agenda with the experiences of the American people since the 2016 election.
Most importantly, Marco doesn't believe he needs to prove his MAGA cred. He was a tea party insurgent after all, and the spirit of the insurgent grassroots is embedded in his political DNA.
Marco, aware of the importance of funding and support in the Trump administration, has started to seek backing from MAGA supporters.He has been regularly appearing at pro-Trump activist group rallies and Capitol Hill hotspots to win over the MAGA base.In an effort to align with Trump's "America First" policy and prove his loyalty, Marco has shifted his positions on various policies, such as immigration and foreign aid, to adopt a more MAGA-friendly stance.With the growing influence he has in the administration, Marco's geopolitical portfolio may rely heavily on the continued support of the MAGA base and loyalists within the White House.
