Rubio was called a sell-out, then he won on Venezuela

 U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomes Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot prior to a meeting at the State Department on January 06, 2026 in Washington, DC. [AFP]

Reared in the Cuban exile community of Miami, Marco Rubio grew up dreaming of the downfall of Havana's communists and, since entering politics, dedicated himself to battling Latin America's leftists.

With the US military's overthrow and snatching of Venezuela's firebrand president Nicolas Maduro, Rubio is savoring victory but the outcome came only after compromises that again left many wondering where the old Rubio had gone.