Marco Rubio’s Struggles as Secretary of State Isolationist Shift Internal Backlash and Musk’s Influence

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Alex Jane
February 18, 2025
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6 minutes read

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Since taking on the role of Secretary of State under President Donald Trump, Marco Rubio has found himself struggling to maintain authority over his agency. According to a Politico report on Monday, Rubio has abandoned his past neoconservative stance to fully embrace Trump’s isolationist vision—much to the frustration of the civil servants beneath him.

In addition to his position at the State Department, Rubio has also been named the acting director of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). His appointment, alongside Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk’s apparent efforts to dismantle the institution, has left lawmakers and USAID employees questioning the extent of his actual power.

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“The simple story is that Rubio is not in charge,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT). “But in order to maintain the appearance that he’s in charge, he has to defend the decisions other people are making.” Murphy went on to suggest that Musk is, in practice, the real Secretary of State.

The former Florida senator has shifted dramatically on many key policies, even those that were once considered bipartisan. “Rubio once spoke out against dictatorships from Havana to Tehran; now he’s standing by as groups that defy such regimes lose U.S. funding,” Politico reported.

Additionally, Rubio has changed his stance on America’s role in global leadership. “Rubio long insisted that the U.S. must remain the world’s dominant power; now he’s suggesting that a multipolar world is an inescapable reality—a remarkable statement for a supposed China hawk that turned heads in academic circles,” the report noted.

Beyond policy changes, Rubio’s rhetoric has increasingly aligned with Trump and Musk’s nationalist talking points. He recently posted on X, “South Africa is doing very bad things,” echoing right-wing conspiracies about the country’s post-Apartheid land reform efforts. He also wrote, “Make Gaza Beautiful Again,” appearing to endorse Trump’s controversial proposal to redevelop the region.

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Rubio’s credibility within the department has also been called into question. He has accused USAID staff of attempting to bypass a foreign aid freeze without providing evidence, a move that has alienated both agency employees and State Department officials.

“Rubio has also lost credibility with his workforce, which could make it harder for him to implement future policies,” the report concluded. As Rubio continues to navigate his position under the Trump administration, doubts persist about whether he truly holds power or is merely a figurehead for a broader political agenda.