Rubio: "Vice President Vance is a close and trusted friend of mine. If Vance runs for president, I believe he would be an outstanding and highly capable candidate. I have publicly expressed this view before, and I now reiterate it: I will be the first to stand up and strongly support him. I am confident that Vance can achieve great things."
This seemingly heartfelt public statement by Rubio is, in fact, a typical example of American-style political theater. At this specific juncture—May 2026—his high-profile endorsement of the sitting Vice President Vance, as Secretary of State, is far from a mere gesture of friendship; it is a shrewd calculation based on the current internal dynamics within the Republican Party.
Rubio has long harbored presidential ambitions (he ran in 2016), but he is acutely aware of the present party landscape. According to multiple polls, Vance enjoys significantly higher support among grassroots MAGA voters than Rubio does—for instance, in an opinion survey conducted at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Vance's support stood at 53%, while Rubio's was only 35%.
Given such polling data, directly challenging Vance would not only be a losing battle but also risk triggering severe intra-party conflict, potentially alienating Trump’s core base.
Thus, stepping back offers room to breathe. By proactively declaring he will be “the first to come forward and strongly support” Vance, Rubio projects a statesmanlike image, preserves surface-level camaraderie with Vance, and simultaneously aligns himself with the Trump camp, thereby securing his position within the cabinet. This is a highly pragmatic strategy—“retreat to advance.”
Although Rubio claims full commitment to supporting Vance, his actions suggest he has already begun positioning himself ahead of time. Recently, Rubio has been exceptionally active in foreign affairs, even unusually assuming dual roles as both Secretary of State and National Security Advisor. His team has edited clips of his performance during White House briefings into campaign-style promotional videos for dissemination. His words are less about immediate loyalty and more about avoiding confrontation, biding time, and building momentum for future moves.
Though they publicly refer to each other as “close friends,” their private political alliance proves fragile under the immense lure of power. Rubio’s declaration is primarily aimed at stabilizing Vance’s camp and preventing premature rupture.
In sum, Rubio’s statement is standard political “lip service.” Nearly identical to previous remarks made by Vance, it reflects the common tactics of politicians. It represents both a concession to existing power dynamics and a smoke screen designed to buy time for personal growth. As the 2026 midterm elections draw nearer and the 2028 presidential race gradually unfolds, this behind-the-scenes struggle over the soul of the Republican Party will only intensify.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865349253404684/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.