President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio clashed repeatedly during the 2016 presidential campaign, when both were vying to become the Republican nominee. They were the protagonists of some high-profile moments, especially as they mocked each other's physiques, with Trump calling Rubio "little Marco" and Rubio making reference to what he described as Trump's small hands.
Now, as Rubio occupies a key role in Trump's cabinet as secretary of state, a clip from the contentious period is making the rounds. The video in particular shows Rubio claiming Trump's rhetoric resembled that of a "third world strongman."
Speaking to CNN, Rubio said: "Here's what happens in many countries around the world. You have a leader who says 'don't put your faith in yourselves, in society, put it in me. I'm a strong leader and I'm going to make things better all by myself. We have seen it in Latin America for decades. It's basically the argument he's making, that he, single-handedly, is going to turn the country around. We've never been that kind of country."
This 2016 video is just an incredible two minutes. Every second of it. It will be in the documentary. pic.twitter.com/IownHn2uCy
— Jason Kint (@jason_kint) March 10, 2025
"The president works for the people, not the people for the president. And if you listen to the way he describes himself and what he's going to do. He's going to single-handedly do this and that without regard for whether it's legal or not. I think people are going to have to make up their minds. No matter what happens in this election, for years to come, there are many people on the right, in the media, and voters at large who are going to explain and justify how they fell into this trap supporting Donald Trump because this is not going to end well one way or the other," Rubio added.
The relationship between Trump and rubio improved as the latter backed Trump's White House agenda and endorsed him right before January's Iowa caucuses in 2024.
Trump has publicly praised Rubio, but recent reports claim he has been repeatedly sidelined on major foreign policy decision, leaving him frustrated and out of the loop.
Behind the scenes, Rubio has reportedly expressed frustration that he is often the last to learn of critical foreign policy decisions, four top Republicans told Vanity Fair.
The Secretary of State was again caught off guard when Trump appointed nine special envoys to oversee major diplomatic initiatives—offices housed within the White House, reinforcing the perception that Rubio lacks influence over U.S. foreign policy, sources told the outlet.
POLITICO reporter Nahal Toosi claimed in January that Rubio won't last long at Foggy Bottom due to a combination of factors, including being undermined by the MAGA base and the "essentially weak nature of the position he's inheriting."
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