The internet has found its latest target in Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose pensive, downcast pose in a recent Vanity Fair photoshoot has sparked a tidal wave of memes. The imagery, intended to capture the “core team” of the Trump administration, has instead drawn ridicule for its awkward framing—specifically a shot of Rubio standing alone in a corner.
Social media users quickly turned the high-fashion portrait into a comedy reel:
- The “Naughty Corner”: “Who put Marco Rubio in the naughty corner?” asked one viral post.
- The “Pensive” Secretary: Another user joked, “After being yelled at by Donald Trump, a pensive Marco Rubio quietly cries in the corner, away from public view.”
- The 2016 Flashback: “This is not going to end well. — Marco Rubio, 2016. Narrator: It did not end well.”
Beyond the Memes: Rubio Backs JD Vance for 2028
Despite the online “snickers,” the accompanying interview with author Chris Whipple contained significant political revelations. Rubio effectively sidelined his own potential 2028 presidential ambitions, signaling a consolidated front behind the Vice President.
“If JD Vance runs for president, he’s going to be our nominee, and I’ll be one of the first people to support him,” Rubio stated.
This endorsement is particularly notable given that both men were once vocal critics of Donald Trump before becoming his most prominent loyalists.
The Susie Wiles Fallout: “A Disingenuously Framed Hit Piece”
The photoshoot was part of a broader, explosive profile on White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, often called the “Ice Maiden.” The article caused a firestorm within the administration due to Wiles’ candid (and allegedly manipulated) assessments:
- On Trump: Wiles characterized the President as having an “alcoholic’s personality”—a trait she linked to her father, Pat Summerall—explaining his “big personality” and belief that “there’s nothing he can’t do.”
- On Vance: She reportedly described the Vice President as a “conspiracy theorist for a decade” and suggested his transition to Trump loyalist was “sort of political.”
Rubio has since rushed to Wiles’ defense, slamming the magazine for “deliberately manipulating” pictures and reporting statements out of context. He praised Wiles as the “most loyal and committed” member of the team, accusing the publication of trying to paint a “chaotic” narrative of the Cabinet.