U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 7, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Although many of President Donald Trump's nominees for his administration encountered widespread opposition from Senate Democrats, conservative Secretary of State Marco Rubio was a major exception. Not one Senate Democrat voted against his confirmation, as they hoped he would be a voice of reason in an administration filled with far-right MAGA Republicans and Trump loyalists.
But Punchbowl News, in an article published on Wednesday, January 28, describes the foreign policy frustrations that Democrats are having with Rubio — including those who voted to confirm him as secretary of state.
"The political tensions over President Donald Trump's foreign policy will be focused squarely on Secretary of State Marco Rubio Wednesday morning, when he'll be pressed to explain the decisions of a president hell-bent on flexing U.S. muscle abroad," Punchbowl reporters Anthony Adragna, Briana Reilly and Andrew Desiderio explain. "Senate Democrats are beyond frustrated with the administration's lack of responsiveness on everything from the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to Trump's flirtation with controlling Greenland. They're prepared to pepper Rubio about all of this during today's Foreign Relations Committee hearing."
One of those frustrated Democratic senators is Maryland's Chris Van Hollen.
Van Hollen told Punchbowl, "The old Marco Rubio is unrecognizable today. The Rubio MAGA lobotomy is complete."
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) wants some answers from Rubio about Venezuelan oil now that leftist Nicolás Maduro is no longer in charge.
Murphy told Punchbowl, "We need some visibility on what's happening with this oil. This is crazy. The American people need to understand who’s making money off of that and why Congress isn't involved."
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) told Punchbowl, "From Venezuela to Europe, the United States is spending more, risking more and achieving less."
Read the full Punchbowl News article at this link.
