Senator Marco Rubio, a man who in many ways embodies the spirit of post-American diplomacy, is now fighting for that attention. Whatever the case, Steve Witkoff is rising to the occasion. Rubio's attempts to mediate peace talks for the ongoing war in Ukraine have been overshadowed by Witkoff's sudden rise. Pundits have long speculated that as Rubio finds his footing in the State Department, his ambitions and growing influence would pose a threat to Tillerson’s position. Above all, Rubio wants to be the serious alternative to the hawkish interventionists and neocons. His most recent visit to Canada, where he sought discussions on making them the 51st state, is a testament to the complicated diplomatic path the president has taken.
Now, Rubio’s influence in the Trump administration is under fire. This is in large part due to his close personal relationship with Witkoff, who has previously won over President Trump. While Rubio has been praised for his work ethic and extensive travels to regions such as Central America, the Middle East, and Europe, his role lacks the traditional profile and engagement with policy issues expected of a Secretary of State. Rubio is pointing to this to improve his own credentials as he looks towards the presidential election. How he tackles the challenges ahead will shape his time in office and could set a course long after he’s gone.
Rubio's Diplomatic Efforts
Rubio has thrown himself into undermining discussions focused on bringing the conflict in Ukraine to an end. His skills on the diplomatic stage have earned him praise. Witkoff’s increasing cachet with the Trump administration can distract from all of that. Ironically, that’s exactly how Rubio has been working hand-in-glove with Marco Rubio on all these issues.
In addition to his work on Ukraine, Rubio has traveled extensively as part of his role at the State Department. His visits to Central America, Europe, the Middle East, and Canada have been marked by official welcomes and security measures befitting a high-profile diplomat. As the Canadian trip loomed, issues erupted due to organized debates regarding the 51st state question. This question overshadowed Rubio’s most significant diplomatic objectives.
Rubio has been key in enforcing a foreign aid freeze, granting waivers only for those programs that provide life-saving medicines and other support. His readiness to devote significant resources to reviewing waiver requests for irreplaceable initiatives demonstrates his commitment to protecting essential international assistance from cuts and elimination.
Relationship with Trump and Witkoff
The President Trump-Rubio relationship has been irascible to say the least. Although Trump praises Rubio's work ethic and diplomatic efforts, the President's fondness for Witkoff has raised questions about Rubio's influence within the administration.
"He's worked so hard. He's gone to so many different countries already." – Donald Trump
"He's a fantastic person – a great man. I think he has a chance to be our best secretary of state." – Donald Trump
Others contend that Rubio’s role is not focused enough on engaging the public on key policy details. This is in direct contradiction to the positive confirmations related to his participation. The closeness of his ties to Witkoff makes his position even more tangled.
"Your premise is false. Secretary Rubio and Special Envoy Witkoff have a fantastic relationship, and are working together to advance President Trump’s agenda." – Tammy Bruce
Witkoff himself has said that he has an enormous amount of respect for Rubio, and has repeatedly characterized their relationship as friendly and constructive.
"He is already a great Secretary of State and in my view will go down as one of the greatest." – Steve Witkoff
Rubio's Presidential Ambitions
All this suggests that Rubio took his current gig with an eye toward longterm presidential ambitions. He views his role as successful if he is able to serve for 18 months to two years. In the meantime, he largely uses the period to work on his credentials on the international stage.
Yet many insiders are confident that Rubio will sooner or later discover his sweet spot — far from noisy global flashpoints. All the while, others point to the special opportunity he currently possesses thanks to his relationship with Trump.
"He has one thing that no one else has — he has Trump's 100% confidence." – A person familiar with the dynamic
"I think Marco will find his groove and his niche. It probably won’t be with the hot-button areas of the world — and he’d probably be wise to leave that with the White House to deal with." – A former Republican senator
