“I call him 'Little Marco,'” Trump shouted at the cameras during televised debates and called his rival the supposedly laziest members of the Senate. Rubio, who is about 15 centimeters shorter, also did not hesitate to attack his rival. Trump pontificated: “I don't understand why his hands are as big as the hands of someone who is 5 feet 10 inches tall. And you know what they say about men with small hands – they can't be trusted.”
The battles that Trump and Rubio fought in the 2016 primary elections for the Republican presidential nomination have given way to unprecedented cooperation. With the US attack on Venezuela and the capture of dictator Nicolas Maduro, Rubio became a key figure in Washington. The 54-year-old, nicknamed the “viceroy of Venezuela”, has a decisive influence on current US foreign policywhich Trump recently gave the memorable name of the “Donroe Doctrine.” His story of rising to almost the highest levels of power is completely unique.
Almost exactly a year ago, Marco Rubio found himself in an unusual situation. For 14 years, the Republican from Florida was a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Suddenly he was no longer sitting next to his friends, but in front of them. They were to decide on his qualifications for the position of US Secretary of State.
“You all look very dignified!” — Rubio joked, and delivered a performance that stood out from the mostly subpar interrogations of Trump's cabinet members. He obtained the consent of the Senate without any objections. The son of Cuban immigrants joined the White House power machine just as smoothly.
The postulate regarding “Donroe doctrine” was already included in the national security strategy published in early December – the United States is the dominant power in the Western Hemisphere – from South America to Greenland.
This week, the White House said it was not ruling out military action to take over Greenland. European leaders responded with an unprecedented warning to stop Washington from taking territory from a NATO ally.
Since then, the telephone lines between Copenhagen, Washington and Brussels have been red hot. Reuters reports that U.S. officials are considering offering money to the people of Greenland to voluntarily secede from Denmark. There are talks of amounts reaching up to PLN 100,000. hole. (over PLN 362,000) per person.
The fact that after intervening in Caracas, Trump is also threatening Greenland shows that the current administration has moved away from traditional transatlantic beliefs. In the eyes of Europeans, Secretary of State Rubio is the only person in Trump's entourage who still listens to Western partners.
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This is also related to the biography of this educated lawyer. Born in Miami, Rubio grew up in a world of Cuban exiles. For over six decades, they have been united by anger towards the regime in Havana, a burning desire to overthrow all communists and the belief that only American capitalism is the path to fulfilling individual dreams.
“He is motivated by a deep personal desire for change in Cuba — given what happened to his family,” says Jason Marczak, an expert on Latin America at the US think tank Atlantic Council.
Rubio's father worked as a bartender and his mother as a maid. A family with four children moved to Las Vegas for a few years, where they could earn more money. Because they wanted to give their son a better future and because there were “too many entry-level hotel jobs” in the city of casinos, they returned to Miami, Rubio recalled in his autobiography.
“When I have a problem, I call Marco”
Just 10 years later, this son, raised in a strict Catholic faith, was earning millions in his own law firm. In 2011, he became a United States senator and in 2025, secretary of state. Looking back, Rubio wrote: “I was born into a strong and stable family where our parents made us feel safe and encouraged us to reach for the stars. This is an important element of the American dream.”
When Trump named Rubio his top diplomat, observers began placing bets on how long he would remain in the job. At the same time, Mike Waltz, another influential Republican from Florida, joined the government as national security adviser. Rick Grenell, former US ambassador in Berlin, also tried to build his position as “special presidential envoy for special missions.”
A year later, Waltz was transferred to New York as ambassador to the United Nations, and Grenell now makes headlines mainly as the managing director of a concert hall in Washington. Rubio, on the other hand, has quietly strengthened his position and for the first time since Henry Kissinger, he serves as dual secretary of state and national security adviser.
Donald Trump sometimes can't contain his enthusiasm. “When I have a problem, I call Marco and he solves it,” he said. Rubio will be remembered, according to Trump, as “the best secretary of state in the history of the United States.”
Marco Rubio and Donald TrumpAaron Schwartz/Stringer/Getty Images
Today, Rubio is so important to Trump also because he is a reliable communicator explaining the government's actions. The day after the operation in Caracas, he was present on all channels to comment on Trump's statement.
It is also important that former Senator Rubio maintains close contacts with Capitol Hill. Shortly after Delta Force commandos bombed Maduro's residence at 2 a.m. on January 3, the Secretary of State picked up the phone and informed key senators, both Republicans and Democrats.
Their anger was predictable. During hearings before Christmas, the Trump administration assured Congress that there would be no military intervention. Rubio hasn't gained much support among Democrats. The secretary of state is “a classic neoconservative who believes that America is welcomed everywhere as a liberator,” criticized Democratic senator Chris Murphy.
The hope of Europeans
For Europe, Rubio has been quite a gift in recent months, given the pro-Russian stance of the White House during negotiations on the Ukraine peace plan. When in mid-November, to the surprise of NATO allies, a 28-point plan for alleged peace, developed by negotiators Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, was revealed, it was Rubio who helped modify this document, which was disastrous for Kiev and Europeans.
The Secretary of State also firmly advocates a quick end to the war and the need for painful concessions from Ukraine. However, thanks to it, this will not come at the expense of the victims of war and the transatlantic partnership. “What Rubio gained from his work under the Trump administration is abundantly clear,” writes New York Times columnist Ross Douthat. “The ability to shape foreign policy in line with your pre-Trump beliefs.”
These beliefs include, in addition to appreciation for the NATO alliance, its anti-communism. After Nicolas' capture, Maduro announced that the action was also a warning to the “incompetent, decrepit men” who rule Cuba. “If I lived in Havana and was a member of the government, I would be at least a little concerned.” There is a growing belief in Washington that the rulers of Castro's island, cut off from Venezuela's oil and money, will not last long.
It would be a moment of greatest happiness for Rubio and the nearly two million Cubans who have made the United States their homeland. However, his dreams go even further. It is said that he has ambitions to run for president in 2028. Expert Marczak predicts: “A successful operation in Venezuela will strengthen his position as a leader in the Republican Party.”
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
