Rubio’s Toughest Job in Trump’s Foreign Policy Team Might Be Holding Onto His Own

Marco Rubio may have just stepped into one of the most powerful roles in U.S. foreign policy, but his greatest challenge might be surviving the volatile nature of his boss — President Donald Trump.

Following the sudden removal of National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Trump handed Rubio the rare dual role of Secretary of State and National Security Adviser — a combination not seen since Henry Kissinger. Yet, as international crises mount, from the deepening trade war with China to stalled peace talks in Ukraine, Rubio’s influence may be more symbolic than strategic.

Trump’s Unpredictability Leaves Little Room for Strategy

Foreign policy under Trump continues to defy norms. He undermines allies, praises authoritarians, and treats global diplomacy like a business negotiation. Rubio may hold the titles, but Trump remains the sole architect of U.S. foreign policy. As one administration official put it, subordinates serve at the pleasure — and often, on the whim — of the president.

Rubio must also navigate Trump’s reliance on personal allies, like real estate mogul Steve Witkoff, who has been tapped to lead talks on Ukraine, Iran, and the Middle East — often leaving Rubio sidelined.

According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the chaos is strategic. “In game theory it’s called strategic uncertainty,” he told ABC’s “This Week.” But critics say the reality feels more like pure chaos, undermining U.S. credibility on the global stage.

Rubio’s Balancing Act: Praise Trump or Pay the Price

Rubio’s survival so far stems from his unwavering loyalty to Trump. He has repeatedly praised the president in public and emphasized that his job is to carry out Trump’s vision — not shape it.

“Under President Trump, we’re making a foreign policy that’s about whether it’s good for America — not just the global community,” Rubio said at a recent Cabinet meeting, with Trump seated nearby.

But this strategy has led to awkward moments abroad. On a visit to Canada, Rubio was asked to explain Trump’s bizarre suggestion that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. Instead of rejecting it outright, Rubio merely acknowledged a “disagreement” between the two governments.

From Rising Star to Loyal Lieutenant

Rubio, once seen as the GOP’s future — a young, articulate senator from Florida with Cuban immigrant roots — has reinvented himself as one of Trump’s most dependable allies. His earlier advocacy for human rights and democracy has taken a backseat to supporting the president’s tougher, more nationalist policies.

This includes Rubio’s involvement in mass deportation efforts, such as his defense of detaining pro-Palestinian student protesters and classifying them as violating visa terms. “We don’t want terrorists in America,” he said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

He’s also played a central role in the controversial deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a migrant sent to El Salvador despite a judge’s order. When asked whether he’d intervened with El Salvador’s president, Rubio refused to say — instead declaring, “I would never tell a judge,” reaffirming Trump’s view that foreign policy lies solely with the executive branch.

Rubio’s Political Transformation

Critics argue that Rubio’s complete alignment with Trump is a betrayal of his earlier principles. The man who once clashed with Trump on the 2016 debate stage, famously branded “Little Marco,” now enthusiastically serves him. Some of his former Senate allies, including Democrats who voted to confirm him 99-0 as Secretary of State, have expressed disappointment in what they view as a sellout.

Still, Trump continues to reward Rubio’s loyalty. “Marco Rubio, unbelievable. When I have a problem, I call up Marco,” Trump said recently.

Survival Over Strategy

Ultimately, Rubio’s primary task isn’t to forge peace in Ukraine or manage escalating tensions with China. It’s to stay in Trump’s good graces — a challenge made even tougher by the president’s notoriously fickle nature.

In Trump’s Washington, even top officials are expendable. For Rubio, keeping his job may be harder than any diplomatic mission he undertakes.