DAN GAINOR: From secretary of state to secretary of memes, Rubio wins over MAGA

The societal media prima of the Trump medication is people President Donald Trump. What’s astonishing is the 1 who comes successful 2nd spot — Secretary of State Marco Rubio. You tin hardly sojourn an online level without seeing our caller caput of memes, adjacent much often than the memeworthy vice president. It volition astir apt hap adjacent much present that helium is caller disconnected a large code to the Munich Security Conference that Politico called portion of "America’s charm offensive." 

Rubio has go specified a societal media personage that Trump bought into the fun. One Truth Social poster wrote that "Marco Rubio volition beryllium president of Cuba." Trump responded, "Sounds bully to me!" That acceptable successful question a determination freakout arsenic Cuba’s communist authorities gets progressively disquieted it volition spell the mode of Venezuela.

But the No. 1 mode Rubio is making his people is with what is known arsenic the "Marco Rubio realizing" meme, wherever a representation of Rubio sitting connected a sofa is doctored with him wearing each costume imaginable arsenic helium takes connected adjacent much roles for the administration. His database of imaginable jobs is seemingly endless — president of Venezuela, the ayatollah of Iran, adjacent the caller nutrient pyramid. Following Trump’s station astir the Obamas, different poster had Rubio realizing helium was taking implicit the president’s societal media accounts.

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"Marco Rubio aft being told helium has to tally Greenland now," has him decked retired successful a furry, hooded parka and mittens, similar the apparel worn successful "The Empire Strikes Back" from "Star Wars." Another has him dressed similar Frodo Baggins from "The Lord of the Rings" with the caption, "Rubio realizing that lone helium tin destruct the ringing of power."

Rubio memes were flying accelerated and furious crossed the net successful clip for the Super Bowl. Rubio dressed arsenic a U.S. Olympic skier successful effect to the whines from the skis team. "Marco Rubio realizes helium needs to regenerate the full US Olympic skis squad due to the fact that they’ve been seditious overseas." Another had him dressed arsenic a one-man set to execute the half-time amusement to regenerate lefty weirdo Bad Bunny.

Rubio is intelligibly surviving his champion beingness and enjoying the meme-ish notoriety. At 1 point, helium responded to 1 of the sports memes similar this: "I bash not usually respond to online rumors but consciousness the request to bash truthful astatine this infinitesimal I volition not beryllium a campaigner for the presently vacant HC and GM positions with the Miami Dolphins."

That’s downright Trumpian successful his consciousness of humor.

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As with galore things connected societal media, there’s a method to the madness. At 1 point, Rubio held 4 antithetic jobs nether the Trump medication — caput of state, nationalist information advisor, caput of the National Archives and interim caput of USAID. To underscore that point, the Miami Herald ran this header successful August: "Marco Rubio hands disconnected 1 of his 4 jobs successful Trump administration."

In aboriginal January, caller "CBS Evening News" anchor Tony Dokoupil did a portion astir the emergence of Rubionic memes. "Only successful America: the galore lives and galore jobs of Marco Rubio." As Dokoupil explained, "now AI memes person added to that portfolio, casting Secretary Rubio arsenic the caller politician of Minnesota, the caller Shah of Iran, the premier curate of Greenland and the caller manager of Manchester United." The chyron called it "Marco Rubio’s ‘Moment.’"

Newsweek declared, "Marco Rubio Memes Conquer the internet." Counting him virtually successful complaint of astatine slightest 3 enemies of the U.S. — Iran, Venezuela and Cuba — propulsion successful Greenland, Minnesota and possibly they are right.

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But Rubio mightiness beryllium conquering acold much than galore realize. He mightiness besides person won implicit MAGA conservatives to his side. It wasn’t agelong aft Trump’s re-election successful November 2024 that the property was reporting connected absorption among the basal voters. Politico declared, "Rubio quality triggers MAGA backlash." And the Hill went a akin route, claiming, "Trump’s Rubio prime divides Republicans."

That nary longer seems the case. Rubio has earned his galore jobs due to the fact that he’s been a reliable and palmy proponent for America First. Voters mightiness person been skeptical, but galore present stock the memes some for amusive and due to the fact that they’d beryllium comfy with the caput of authorities taking connected astir immoderate job.

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Dokoupil said, "These memes mightiness not adhd up to much." That could beryllium incorrect. The 2028 predetermination inactive seems decades away, but Rubio’s popularity mightiness awesome blimpish elector enactment for him to astatine slightest person 1 much occupation — a spot connected the ticket, possibly with his meme popularity spouse Vice President JD Vance.

No substance what, Rubio won’t ever beryllium connected a sofa without idiosyncratic declaring it a spot of power.

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