In an exclusive interview, Senator Marco Rubio warns of American weakness in a hostile world

Six years ago, Marco Rubio set his sights on the presidency and ended up settling for reelection to a second term in the US Senate. Now Florida’s senior senator, Rubio is running for a third term in the November midterms. In a wide-ranging conversation with Mishpacha’s editor at large Binyamin Rose, the Florida Republican shared what he feels are the biggest threats facing America, what Israel ought to bear in mind when dealing with the Biden administration over Iran, a few thoughts about his controversial bill for year-round daylight saving time, and what led to his about-face on Donald Trump

When my path last crossed with Marco Rubio, less than 48 hours remained until the start of voting at the 2016 Iowa Caucuses.

I was covering a town hall meeting at the Ramada Hotel in Des Moines where Rubio was holding forth in front of a crowd that reflected Iowa’s predominantly conservative and religious constituency. Looking casual in a gray zip-up sweater and Republican red tie, Rubio conveyed messages that both emanated from his core beliefs and resonated with the audience.

“Our rights come from G-d and not from government,” Rubio said, adding that “Judeo-Christian values made America the most charitable nation on earth.”

That night, Rubio showed flashes of humor, revealed his serious, issues-oriented side, and displayed his people skills as Iowans flocked around him after his campaign speech. I joined in, introducing myself as a former Miami Beach resident, and slipped in a quick question on the US-Israel relationship. Rubio answered by criticizing Obama for injecting unnecessary friction between the two strategic allies and promised to put an end to that if he became president.

When all the caucus votes were counted two nights later, Iowa’s Republican voters proved to be less charitable to Rubio than he had hoped for. He finished third behind first-place finisher Ted Cruz and the ultimate party nominee, Donald Trump.

Rubio dropped out of the presidential race six weeks later after a disappointing second-place finish to Trump in Florida, but pulled the plug on his campaign early enough to make the pivot and run to retain his Senate seat — a race he won handily that November.

I reminded Rubio of our Iowa encounter when we spoke last Wednesday, exactly six years to the day after he declared his second Senate run.

“I was a lot younger then,” he quipped. “I did a lot of Ramadas on Saturday nights in Iowa back then, but I appreciate you remembering.”

Seated behind his desk in his Washington office, with the American flag behind his right shoulder and Florida’s state flag to his left, Rubio took a quick, but trademark swig from a plastic water bottle before our interview began. It brought back some déjà vu to 2013 when the media took swipes at Rubio for quenching his thirst on camera before his nationally televised rebuttal to President Obama’s State of the Union message. Critics looking to find fault called it a gaffe. Others thought it showed his human side. Familiar as I am with scorching and steamy D.C. summers, which are almost as unbearable as hot and muggy Florida, I can relate to the need to keep hydrated.

Call it what you will, but as Rubio runs for a third senate term this November, completing his 12th year in the Senate, he comes across as self-assured, not self-conscious in the least.

Rubio sits on the two most powerful committees that influence US foreign policy. He is vice chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and is the second-ranking Republican on the Committee on Foreign Relations. If Rubio wins reelection and the Republicans capture the Senate, he is first in line to chair the Intelligence Committee.

By the numbers, Rubio is one of America’s most prolific and effective lawmakers. In the average Congressional session, only about 3 to 5 percent of the bills introduced in Congress are enacted into law. In the 116th Congress alone (January 3, 2019, to January 3, 2021), Rubio introduced 130 bills and resolutions, with 31 of them becoming laws — almost 24 percent, according to GovTrack, a leading nongovernmental source of legislative information and statistics.

GovTrack’s 2020 report card ranked Rubio the number one senator for the number of bills introduced and number two in his ability to line up the most cosponsors for his bills — including Democrats. This, despite Rubio’s GovTrack ranking as the second-most politically right-wing senator among those who have served more than ten years.

Even CNN, no fan of the political right, has praised Rubio’s ability to reach across the political aisle. CNN recently described the arc of Rubio’s political career “that has taken him from Tea Party darling to bipartisan deal-cutter to a favorite of the party establishment and now as a Republican aligned squarely with the former president.”

Rubio’s rapprochement with Donald Trump, who mocked Rubio as he did every opponent in the 2016 presidential primary, signified a sharp turnabout from comments Rubio made in his March 2016 interview with Mishpacha, when Rubio labeled Trump “the most vulgar person that’s ever run for president” who “sets a terrible example for young people in this country.”

Rubio explained his change of heart during the latter part of our interview last week.