By Charles Switzer
11:45am PST, Mar 1, 2025
Social Media Erupts Over Rubio's Expression During Trump-Zelensky Clash
Social media users couldn't help but notice Secretary of State
Marco Rubio's visibly uncomfortable expression as he sat through President
Donald Trump's heated exchange with Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelensky. Screenshots of Rubio's grimaced face quickly went viral, with users mocking him for his apparent regret at taking the job. Political commentator
Jon Favreau quipped, "No one has wanted to be severed more than Marco Rubio in this job," referencing the show
Severance. Slate politics editor
Jim Newell humorously asked, "How we doin bud?" as a flood of memes and comments roasted Rubio's demeanor.
Here's what people are saying.
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Critics Call Rubio a 'Coward' for Staying Silent
Many users took a more critical stance, labeling Rubio as a coward for failing to intervene as Trump berated Zelensky.
One user wrote, "If Marco Rubio wants to save what's left of his soul and his honor, he'd resign immediately."
Another added, "Marco Rubio regretting he took the job." Some pointed out that Rubio once spoke strongly against Trump before ultimately falling in line with his administration, with one X user writing, "Rubio looks absolutely disgusted. He knows deep down Zelensky is the one we should be defending but he sold his soul to
MAGA."
Emmy-Winning Editor Joins the Rubio Roast
Even Hollywood figures joined the pile-on. Emmy-winning
Ted Lasso editor
A.J. Catoline took a jab at Rubio, posting, "Go lick
Putin's boot, Marco." He also added a
Severance-themed meme mocking Rubio's expression.
Other social media users followed suit, using pop culture references to highlight the Florida Republican's apparent dismay. One viral tweet summed it up: "You literally could do a daily picture of Marco Rubio swimming in the misery of knowing he gave away a long-term Senate job only to get none of the prestige of being SoS and all the responsibility for letting kids and Ukraine die."
The Fallout: What This Means for Ukraine
Beyond the jokes, some commenters expressed concern about how Trump's disastrous meeting with Zelensky could impact
Ukraine's fight against Russia. Several pointed out that Rubio, despite looking visibly distressed, failed to push back on Trump's stance. "Rubio knows this is bad. He knows the U.S. should be backing Zelensky, not humiliating him in the Oval Office," one user wrote.
Others speculated that Trump's rhetoric might embolden Russia, particularly given his history of cozying up to Vladimir Putin.
Rubio Tries to Salvage His Image with MAGA Praise
Despite his widely mocked expression, Rubio attempted to play the loyal soldier post-meeting, releasing a statement on X praising Trump. "Thank you @POTUS for standing up for America in a way that no President has ever had the courage to do before. Thank you for putting America First. America is with you!" the Secretary of State tweeted.
However, many saw it as an obvious attempt to save face, with one user responding, "Blink twice if you need rescuing, Marco."
Another sarcastically added, "That's the face of a man who definitely believes what he's tweeting. Instant meme gold."
