Following Sen. Marco Rubio’s appearance with President Donald Trump in Miami on Friday to announce the revised policy of Cuba-U.S. relations, the liberal media was taken aback by a former campaign rival who now supports the president and his policy toward the communist regime.
“More than anything else this change empowers the people of Cuba… America is prepared to outstretch its hand and work with the people of Cuba, but we will not empower their oppressors,” Rubio said in Miami.
“Less than a year and half ago, an American president landed in Havana, to outstretch his hand to a regime,” he said. “Today, a new president lands in Miami to reach out his hand to the people of Cuba.”
“It was a striking show of solidarity between two men who last year had been fierce presidential rivals — who had upbraided each other in deeply personal terms during one of the ugliest stretches of the Republican primary,” the Washington Post reported on Friday.
“Neither made reference to the insults they once lobbed at each other, which has defined their public relationship for more than two years,” the Post reported.
The Post, in fact, states in its article about what it sees as an unlikely alliance, that Rubio’s membership on the Senate Intelligence Committee investigating Russian influence in the 2016 presidential race could be a factor.
“But associates say the relationship has improved significantly in recent months,” the Post reported. “The timing of the thaw, however, has provoked accusations that the president is trying to ingratiate himself with a key member of a congressional panel investigating potential ties between Trump associates and Russia.”
The Post cited a statement by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, that said, in part, “it should be obvious to everyone that this is a political favor from President Trump to a few influential members of congress who have never set foot in Cuba and who represent a tiny minority of the American people.”
The Post article debates Trump’s motives and Rubio’s as far as their relationship goes, but concluded that the senator seems “in awe” of the president.
“As he helped introduce Trump here Friday on a podium bearing the presidential seal, Rubio spoke in a volume and cadence reminiscent of the speeches he delivered as a candidate for president,” the Post reported. “This time, the race had been long settled. And instead of attacking Trump, Rubio seemed almost in awe of being around him.”
“They had the best M&Ms on the planet,” Rubio said about his trip to Florida with Trump on Air Force One.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.