Marco Rubio: Who is the Florida politician who once said Donald Trump has small hands?

Florida Senator Marco Rubio is set make history as the first Latino to serve as US Secretary of State, the country’s top diplomat.

Rubio once mocked Donald Trump for his “small hands” and criticised his foreign policy experience, but now looks set to serve in one of the most important roles in his new administration.

The 53-year-old has advocated for a muscular approach to China and Iran but has opposed further funding for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

So who is the Sunshine State senator who’s set to be the top representative of the US around the world?

An ‘historic’ appointment

Mr Rubio was born in 1971 to Cuban parents who immigrated to America a couple of years before the Cuban Revolution – though he has at times claimed they arrived after the revolution in what some have said was a bid to enhance his own image.

Neither his mother nor his father were US citizens when he was born but they applied and were naturalised a few years after his birth.

Mr Rubio would be the first Latino to serve as US secretary of state and his expected selection comes after Mr Trump’s decisive election victory in which he enjoyed the support of a significant proportion of America’s Hispanic population.

If confirmed in the role, Mr Rubio would likely place a much greater importance on Latin America than any of his predecessors, says Mauricio Claver-Carone, a Rubio ally and former National Security Council aide.

“This is the time Latin America will most be on the map in the history of any US presidency. It’s historic. There’s no other way to say it,” Mr Claver-Carone said.

Read more:
Kremlin denies Trump and Putin call discussing Ukraine
How will Trump 2.0 be different to first presidency?

From working with Democrats to ‘severe conservative’

Mr Rubio was elected to Florida’s state house of representatives in the 1990s and went on to serve as Speaker.

Described during one period as something of a centrist who worked with Democrats, his tenure as Speaker was marked by a much more conservative stance on various issues.

“I think Marco is a severe conservative, really far to the right, but probably the most talented spokesman the severe right could ever hope for,” said Dan Gelber, who was leader of the Florida House Democrats during Mr Rubio’s tenure as Speaker.

In an interesting move, he delivered a speech in which he asked his fellow representatives to look under their desks, where they found a copy of a book titled ‘100 Innovative Ideas For Florida’s Future’ – except the book was blank and Rubio said they would fill it out together with the Floridian people.

He set about travelling the state and talking to the public and subsequently published the book. Some 24 of the ideas were passed into law.

‘Little Marco’ Rubio v ‘Small hands’ Trump

After serving as Florida House Speaker, Mr Rubio’s profile only grew as he went on to be elected Senator for the state.

In 2012 he endorsed Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination and in 2016 he threw his own hat into the ring, lining himself up against future president Donald Trump.

At a rally in Dallas in February 2016, Mr Rubio spent around 10 minutes laying into Mr Trump, who famously referred to him as “little Marco” during the race.

“A tough guy?” Mr Rubio scoffed. “This guy inherited $200m. He’s never faced any struggle.”

He also made a dig Mr Trump’s “small hands”.

Mr Rubio ultimately endorsed Mr Trump for the 2016 nomination, and it appears that he has become much more aligned with the president-elect over the past several years.

What would Marco Rubio be like as Secretary of State?

The new Trump administration will be faced with a more dangerous and volatile world than it was when Mr Trump first took office in 2017.

Wars in Gaza and Ukraine continue to rage while America’s adversaries have become bolder and more aligned.

In the past Mr Rubio has advocated for a muscular, ‘hawkish’, foreign policy with respect to America’s geopolitical foes, including China, Iran and Cuba.

Mr Rubio was sanctioned by China in 2020 over his stance on Hong Kong following democracy protests.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

During Mr Trump’s first term, Mr Rubio co-sponsored legislation that would make it harder for the president to withdraw from NATO by requiring two-thirds of the Senate to ratify withdrawal.

However, most of the president-elect’s allies preach restraint, particularly in Europe, where many Republicans complain US allies are not paying their fair share on defence.

In recent interviews, Mr Rubio has said Ukraine needs to focus on negotiating peace rather than regaining territory.

He voted against President Joe Biden’s $95bn (£74bn) military aid package for Ukraine which was ultimately passed in April.