White House Gives Marco Rubio Birthday Gift of 'Rubio Realizing' Memes

Marco Rubio, who holds three official jobs in the Trump administration, has become a viral meme star with his 'Rubio Realizing' images. For his 55th birthday, White House staffers and President Trump gifted him with a gold-framed collage of their 68 favorite memes. The memes are based on a photo from an awkward moment in the Trump White House, where Rubio sat ramrod straight on an Oval Office couch without engaging as the president and Vice President Vance excoriated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The memes have featured Rubio as everything from a Kiss band member to a samurai to a 'Bachelorette' contestant, often referencing his roles as secretary of state, national security adviser, and chair of the U.S. bid for the World Expo in 2035. According to Sarah Longwell, publisher of the Bulwark, the memes have boosted Rubio's popularity with voters, with many seeing him as a serious and grown-up figure in the administration. Rubio has said he has no plans to run for president in 2028 and will endorse Vice President Vance if he runs. President Trump wants Vance to pick Rubio as a running mate, but the two haven't seriously discussed the presidential race. Rubio has joked about wanting more jobs, including surgeon general, and has said that when the original meme-inspiring photo of him first came out, he 'hated' it, but now finds it funny.

The gift was well-received by Rubio, who has become accustomed to the memes. The 'Rubio Realizing' memes have become a staple of social media, with many users creating and sharing their own versions. The memes have also sparked a conversation about the role of social media in politics, with some arguing that they can be a powerful tool for building a politician's image and others seeing them as a distraction from more serious issues.