Since then, Rubio has come under significant pressure from Republican party leaders to back Tillerson and avoid a split within the GOP on one of President Trump’s most high-profile picks, according to those close to him. Rubio held an unannounced meeting with Tillerson last week, according to two people with knowledge of the get-together, although it was unclear whether Tillerson was able to alleviate Rubio’s concerns.

Now-Vice President Pence and now-White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus were also in the meeting, according to a Rubio adviser familiar with the gathering. It lasted 90 minutes and was a blunt conversation not just about Tillerson’s answers at the hearing, but also about Rubio’s overall concerns about Russia and other matters, said the adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the private talk.