The social media star of the Trump administration is, of course, President Donald Trump. What’s surprising is the one who comes in second place: Secretary of State Marco Rubio. You can hardly visit an online platform without seeing our new secretary of memes, even more often than the meme-worthy vice president. It’s likely to happen even more now that he’s fresh off a major speech at the Munich Security Conference, which Politico called part of “America’s charm offensive.”
Rubio has become such a social media celebrity that Trump agreed to it. A Truth Social poster stated that “Marco Rubio will become president of Cuba.” Trump replied: “Sounds good to me!” That set off a wave of regional panic as Cuba’s communist government grows increasingly concerned that it will side with Venezuela.
But the No. 1 way Rubio is making his mark is with what’s known as the “Marco Rubio realizing” meme, which involves editing a photo of Rubio sitting on a couch wearing every costume imaginable as he takes on even more roles for the administration. His list of potential jobs seems endless: president of Venezuela, the ayatollah of Iran, even the new food pyramid. After Trump’s post about the Obamas, Rubio realized on another poster that he was taking over the president’s social media accounts.
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“Marco Rubio, after being told he must now run Greenland,” has him decked out in a furry parka with hood and mittens, like the clothes worn in “The Empire Strikes Back” from “Star Wars.” Another has him dressed as Frodo Baggins from “The Lord of the Rings” with the caption: “Rubio realizes that only he can destroy the ring of power.”
Rubio memes flew fast and furious across the internet in time for the Super Bowl. Rubio dressed up as an American Olympic skier in response to the ski team’s whining. “Marco Rubio realizes he has to replace the entire US Olympic ski team because they have been seditious abroad.” Another had him dress up as a one-man band to perform the halftime show, replacing left-wing lunatic Bad Bunny.
Rubio is clearly living his best life and enjoying the meme-like fame. At one point, he responded to one of the sports memes as follows: “I don’t normally respond to online rumors, but at this time I feel the need to do so. I will not be a candidate for the currently vacant HC and GM positions with the Miami Dolphins.”
That’s downright Trumpian in its sense of humor.
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As with many things on social media, there is a method to the madness. At one point, Rubio held four different positions under the Trump administration: secretary of state, national security adviser, head of the National Archives and interim head of USAID. To underscore that point, the Miami Herald headlined in August: “Marco Rubio hands over one of his four jobs in Trump administration.”
In early January, new CBS Evening News host Tony Dokoupil did a piece on the rise of Rubionic memes. “Only in America: The Many Lives and Many Jobs of Marco Rubio.” As Dokoupil explained, “now AI memes have been added to that portfolio, making Secretary Rubio the new Governor of Minnesota, the new Shah of Iran, the Prime Minister of Greenland, and the new manager of Manchester United.” The chyron called it “Marco Rubio’s ‘Moment.'”
Newsweek declared: “Marco Rubio Memes Conquer the Internet.” If you put him virtually in charge of at least three US enemies – Iran, Venezuela and Cuba – throw in Greenland, Minnesota and they might be right.
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But Rubio could conquer much more than many realize. He also might have gotten the MAGA conservatives on his side. It didn’t take long after Trump’s re-election in November 2024 for the press to report on the opposition among base voters. Politico stated: “Rubio news triggers MAGA backlash.” And the Hill took a similar route, claiming, “Trump’s Rubio pick divides Republicans.”
That no longer seems to be the case. Rubio has earned his many jobs because he has been a reliable and successful advocate for America First. Voters may have been skeptical, but many are now sharing the memes both for fun and because they would like the Secretary of State to take on almost any job.
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Dokoupil said: “These memes may not add much.” That could turn out to be incorrect. The 2028 election still seems decades away, but Rubio’s popularity could signal support from conservative voters to have at least one more job — a spot on the ticket, perhaps with his meme popularity partner, Vice President J.D. Vance.
No matter what happens, Rubio will never sit on a bench without someone declaring it a seat of power.
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