I was a big backer of Marco Rubio in 2016, as were most of my fellow Republican delegates in our straw poll that year. 

Young, hyper-intelligent, articulate, and very good looking.

Except for his ears. He has elephant ears. He could fly with those things, according to Disney. 

Aside from that, though, I really liked him. I have no idea what kind of president he would have been. It's not combat to be president, but like combat (as I understand it), you never know what somebody will be like under pressure until the s**t hits the fan. 

I suspect I would crawl into a ball and whimper a lot, but maybe I would surprise myself. Who knows? My guess at the time was that Marco would rise to the challenge, but who really knows?

Well, now we know how Marco would be as Secretary of State, and I have to say that he is AWESOME, exceeding my expectations. 

Perhaps it is the liberation that comes from working with Trump, but Marco is not your typical Secretary of State, proclaiming platitudes persistently. He says what he means, means what he says, and isn't "diplomatic" in that oily way we are used to.

No doubt some people are scared by that. It isn't "how it is done," to which I say. "How's that been working out for us, huh?" 

Not so well in my estimation. 

The world order has been changing for quite a while, but our diplomats have behaved as if the era of the US being the sole Great Power is indefinitely secure. As our adversaries build up their power, attack us through proxies, and rattle their sabers, Secretaries of State like Tony Blinken sleepwalked us into chaos and weakness. 

Marco Rubio is a rockstar in this administration. Pleasantly surprised. pic.twitter.com/6IR4PQUtc9

— Insurrection Barbie (@DefiyantlyFree) March 3, 2025

Rubio? I don't think so. The US still is capable of a muscular foreign policy aimed at promoting our interests and restoring the balance of power. 

He has been masterful in his takeover of USAID, and is willing to take on the fight against foreigners promoting terrorism on our soil. As the Democrats have howled about both USAID and Mahmoud Khalil, Rubio brings the fire with grace, integrity, and facts. 

Incredible to me that Dems are choosing to die on this hill. @SecRubio delivering a masterclass here. https://t.co/UQDxp5pnKQ

— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) March 13, 2025

One of the big problems with our foreign policy elites is that they seem to have learned about only three periods of history: World War II, the Cold War, and the Global War on Terror. 

The lessons they learned from each are important, but not always applicable in today's multipolar world. Maybe they should read more about Bismarck's approach to foreign policy, which is more relevant today. 

Because of the Israel-Hamas war and the Ukraine War, the intersection of foreign and domestic policy is very broad, and Rubio is handling the overlap superbly. 

Pure fire from new acting director of USAID Marco Rubio:

"Every dollar we spend will be aligned with the national interest of the United States. USAID has a history of ignoring that and deciding that they're a global charity. These are not donor dollars, these are taxpayer… pic.twitter.com/a0aTtgoiw6

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 3, 2025

However chaotic it looks, time has proven that Donald Trump's foreign policy instincts are remarkable. He may look like a whirling dervish at times and it may be difficult to figure out his strategy, but over time the results start to pile up and the pile seems to be filled with gold nuggets. 

Marco Rubio has turned out to be a great partner for Trump in pushing his agenda. I can't say I am shocked, but you never really know until the mettle is tested. 

Rubio has been tested, and passed with flying colors.