Jeering memes backfire as MAGA finds new darling: GOP expert

MAGA has found a new darling in a Donald Trump cabinet member as Vice President JD Vance looks to be sidelined, an expert has claimed.

Trump voting members of the public backed Marco Rubio, who seems to be gaining importance in MAGA circles for his multiple roles in government. The Atlantic analyst Sarah Longwell noted the changing tide for Rubio, who appeared to be benefiting from his vast number of titles.

Longwell wrote, "Rubio currently serves as secretary of state and national security adviser, and until recently he served as acting USAID administrator and acting archivist of the United States. Voters see the memes tweaking Rubio for having such a laughable number of important titles and think he must be doing something right.

"Another reason voters seem to like Rubio: They see him as the 'adult in the room.' This is understandable. Looking smart and sober is relatively easy when you’re surrounded by the likes of Pete Hegseth, Kash Patel, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Even Trump himself—with his garbled speech and incoherent ramblings—makes his underlings seem more credible by comparison. All of that accrues to Rubio’s benefit."

Trump voters who spoke at a focus group overseen by Longwell suggested that Rubio is seen as a more preferred lead candidate for the Republican Party at the 2028 election than Vance.

Steve from Florida said, “Marco Rubio, my former senator, is doing great as secretary of state. He will be a great president too.” Dave, a two-time Trump voter from West Virginia, added, "He’s wearing multiple hats right now. I think he’s doing a good job in his role. I think he speaks well.

"I’d prefer to see him continue to stay in one of these State Department roles. Or if Trump makes him the new ayatollah or something, maybe he can do that as well."

Those who once thought highly of Vance now believe their support must lie with other candidates. Adam, a two-time Trump voter from California, noted, "I think the well is poisoned. I think that he [Vance] sold his soul in a way, and he’s adopting the divisive, dismissive stance that his boss does, to curry favor, secure his position. So unfortunately, he revealed a part of himself that there’s no returning from."

Sam from Minnesota, a Gen Z Trump 2024 voter, added, "I just don’t like Vance a lot. I think he has flip-flopped on issues. If you look at what he was about in 2018, 2019, or 2020, and you look at what he’s about now, it’s very, very different. I'd love to see Marco Rubio [run in 2028]."