Earlier this year, after losing their majority in the November elections, Senate Democrats began vying for a number of President Trump's Cabinet nominees. But Marco Rubio was not one of them. Senate unanimously confirmed him as Secretary of State in January – for two reasons.
First, Rubio spent more than a decade in the Senate, which is one of the friendliest and most insular legislatures in the world. And second, the former Florida senator has earned a reputation as a level-headed, reasonable, and compromising figure—at least by the standards of the MAGA-era GOP. Senate Democrats were no doubt relieved to learn that Rubio was running the State Department rather than, say, Steve Bannon.
You undoubtedly remember “adults in the room” meme of reporting during Trump's first term: a reference to establishment figures in the administration who were seen as bringing much-needed stability and experience to a presidency sorely lacking in both; these people will temper Trump's worst instincts. But in January, Trump 2.0 unfolded very differently. He's tired of adults; his administration will be filled to the brim with crazy people, losers and incompetents. However, Rubio was an exception. He will be the adult in the room—perhaps the only one.
It could be argued that this was true. Yes, Rubio, who has since added acting credits national security adviser And Acting National Archivist to his portfolio – he's had his share of silly moments, like his recent order change The default font for State Department messages became Times New Roman because the Calibri font was too active. But for the most part, especially compared to colleagues like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ( murderous dumbass) or Attorney General Pam Bondi (just a dumbass, but very big), Rubio was steering a tight ship. While Trump's second term was characterized by overreach, incompetence and chaos, the State Department largely went about its business without causing controversy.
But here's the problem: Rubio's performance this year is bound to be controversial. Since taking office, he has transformed the State Department into a ruthless and effective arm of the administration's broader efforts to suppress dissent and demonize and punish immigrants, both legal and illegal. Perhaps even more surprising, given his long history as a foreign policy hawk, he has worked slavishly to reshape American foreign policy according to Trump's exact demands: destroying long-standing alliances and moving closer to dictatorships while making the world more dangerous and unstable. Now, as the year comes to an end, it pushes the United States to war.
