According to a recent Gallup poll, Marco Rubio has surpassed both Donald Trump and JD Vance in terms of approval ratings among Americans.
The survey, conducted from December 1 to 15, a few weeks after the government shutdown ended, highlighted the diminishing trust of the American electorate in their political leaders as the year drew to a close.
None of the 12 key U.S. leaders from Congress, the Cabinet, the Supreme Court, or the Federal Reserve managed to secure an approval rating above 50%. However, Rubio (41%) and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell (44%) emerged as the most favorably viewed.
The Gallup poll revealed a low approval rating for Congress (17%), with 37% of Republicans, but only 12% of independents and 6% of Democrats expressing approval for the Republican-led legislative branch.
Republican approval in Congress stands at 29%, while Democrats in Congress have an approval rating of 24%, according to the report.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump's performance is approved by 36% of Americans, including 89% of Republicans, 25% of independents, and a mere 3% of Democrats.
Trump's approval rating has remained steady since last month, when it dropped to the lowest point of his second term, just above his personal low of 34% in January 2021.
The survey indicates varying approval ratings between 35% and 39% for eight other figures, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Chief Justice John Roberts, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Vice President JD Vance.
Senate Republican Leader John Thune (34%) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (28%) find themselves at the lower end of the list.
Rubio's Vision for Latin America
Known for his staunch opposition to the Cuban regime, Rubio believes that weakening Nicolás Maduro's government in Venezuela could deliver a critical blow to Cuba's communist regime, as reported by The New York Times in mid-December.
The son of Cuban immigrants who settled in Florida before the 1959 revolution, Rubio has made the Caracas–Havana relationship a focal point of his policy towards Latin America.
His public and private statements suggest that cutting off Venezuela's economic and intelligence support to Cuba would trigger political collapse on the island.
The New York Times describes Rubio as a key strategist in President Donald Trump's military and economic pressure campaign against Maduro's regime. While the stated aim is to "restore Venezuelan democracy," government sources admit that the Republican politician also seeks to undermine the Castro regime.
“His change theory involves severing all support to Cuba. Once Venezuela falls, Cuba will follow,” stated Juan González, a former adviser to President Joe Biden on Latin America, to the newspaper.
In earlier interviews, Rubio has been forthright: “Anything that harms a communist dictatorship is something I support.”
According to former aides quoted by the publication, the Florida senator, who has built his career on growing support from the Cuban exile community, frequently spoke in the Senate and with diplomats about the need to isolate the Havana regime and break its alliance with Caracas.
Understanding Rubio's Political Strategy
Why does Marco Rubio have higher approval ratings than Trump and JD Vance?
Marco Rubio's focus on key issues such as his stance against the regimes in Cuba and Venezuela, as well as his strategic influence in U.S. politics, may contribute to his higher approval ratings compared to Trump and JD Vance.
What role does Rubio play in U.S. policy towards Latin America?
Rubio is a significant strategist in shaping U.S. policy towards Latin America, focusing on weakening the Venezuelan government to indirectly impact Cuba's communist regime.