Exploring the Rubio-Musk Relationship — and Rubio's Approach to Thriving
The Secretary of State is facing challenges regarding requests to reduce funding for his department.
TroibNews 
In late February, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met discreetly with Elon Musk to discuss the future of the State Department and the remnants of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The previously unreported meeting was described as cordial, with some even categorizing it as lighthearted. However, underlying their conversation were some notable disagreements. Musk, the world’s wealthiest person and a key adviser to President Donald Trump, advocated for significant and swift cuts at the State Department. In contrast, Rubio was open to major reductions but preferred to take a more measured approach. He was already grappling with the repercussions of rapid changes at USAID, as well as dealing with various global crises. He felt that alterations at the State Department should be implemented thoughtfully and systematically.
According to an individual familiar with the matter, their initial meeting concluded amicably. However, last week, the two again expressed their differing views in front of Trump. An official close to Rubio characterized this subsequent meeting, which included other Cabinet members, as calmer than reported in a previous New York Times article. Nonetheless, the official did not dispute the accuracy of the article, which covered their disagreements regarding personnel changes at the State Department, with Rubio advocating for a more strategic approach to the department’s restructuring. During this latest meeting, Musk allegedly accused Rubio of dismissing a staff member from the Department of Government Efficiency.
The official emphasized that with numerous global challenges at stake, “nobody wants the State Department to be in a position where USAID was, where it had difficulty operating.”
For Rubio, the battle over the future of the State Department is about more than just safeguarding America's diplomatic engagement; it is about maintaining his influence within the Trump administration.
He finds himself in a complex environment filled with rivals. While Rubio holds the title of chief U.S. diplomat, he faces competition from several other Trump appointees who seek to influence foreign policy, including Musk and various special envoys. As Musk inches closer to his domain, Rubio understands the need to establish boundaries while navigating delicate dynamics.
Adding to the challenge is the fact that Rubio’s historical foreign policy positions often contradict Trump's approach. This tension has led him to adopt stances that conflict with his established reputation, such as criticizing the Polish foreign minister recently.
“He's in this awkward situation,” remarked Gerald Feierstein, a former diplomat and U.S. ambassador to Yemen. “He's doing things that he fundamentally believes are bad policy and bad steps. He's got to go along with it because Musk and Trump are standing between him and his higher ambition of being president.”
Though he is not the only Cabinet member facing backlash from Musk's actions, Rubio has drawn significant attention due to the rapid dismantling of USAID so early into Trump's presidency and the national security risks presented by cutting the State Department. Additionally, he is perceived as one of the weaker appointees within the administration.
To counteract this perception, Rubio has taken advantage of his position as Secretary of State to showcase his accomplishments for Trump. He has been actively engaged in discussions regarding the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, has encouraged Panama to reduce its ties with China amid Trump's threats regarding the Panama Canal, and has supported Trump's immigration enforcement efforts. Rubio has traveled extensively, promoting the Trump agenda at significant events, such as the Munich Security Conference and his visit to Israel.
At times, he has appeared somewhat out of place. For instance, his silence during a moment when Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy even inspired a parody on "Saturday Night Live." Nevertheless, Rubio has worked to dispel doubts about his alignment with Trump, frequently appearing on television to support viewpoints he once opposed as a senator.
Rubio has publicly endorsed the idea of dismantling USAID, although the decision was largely out of his hands. By the time he was appointed as USAID’s acting administrator, Musk and Pet Marocco, a Trump political appointee, had significantly weakened the institution.
Despite this, Rubio bore much of the subsequent criticism from Congress, the judiciary, and his own staff, even while lacking real authority over the situation at USAID.
The dynamics at the State Department feel different for Rubio, and he is less willing to let it be compromised in the same manner as USAID.
He finds common ground on fundamental reforms, including staff reductions and closing certain diplomatic facilities, but he intends to restructure the department in a way that satisfies Trump while keeping Musk’s influence in check, all while protecting his primary source of power. If he permits Musk to implement drastic changes without a coherent strategy, he risks undermining both the department and his own authority. Observers from foreign governments are closely monitoring the situation, frequently inquiring if Rubio remains the best point of contact amid the chaos of the Trump administration.
“Rubio wants to be a diplomat,” the source stated. “Everything DOGE does creates problems for him in terms of diplomacy.”
While lists proposing the closure of consulates and the dismissal of employees have been circulating for some time, Rubio has yet to take action—much to Musk’s frustration.
Last week, some Rubio aides and individuals from the National Security Council attempted to push Marocco out of his position, but Rubio sided with other senior officials who preferred to retain him, according to the source.
The official close to Rubio denied that any such move took place. Marocco's team sent a statement in which he called Trump and Rubio “historic patriots” and said it was the “honor of a lifetime” to serve them in “reforming and realigning foreign assistance,” although he did not address job security questions.
The official emphasized the need for patience, a challenging request for U.S. diplomats facing job uncertainties.
“Good, substantive reforms take time,” the official explained. “The president's been pretty clear that there need to be significant changes in the way that the federal government is organized. I think every Cabinet secretary is going about that in their own specific way to make sure those changes are smart, they stick, and that core capabilities and functions are retained.”
The State Department opted not to comment, but a senior official there emphasized that Musk and Rubio maintain a “great relationship” and are collaboratively working to “correct the failures of the last administration.”
Musk did not respond to requests for comment.
Trump is attempting to balance multiple interests. During the recent Cabinet meeting, he allowed agency heads to run their departments while indicating Musk would serve as an enforcer to ensure that cuts are implemented.
He also insisted that Rubio and Musk are on amicable terms, stating, “ELON AND MARCO HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP. ANY STATEMENT OTHER THAN THAT IS FAKE NEWS!!!” on Truth Social over the weekend.
Both Rubio and Musk are now making efforts to publicly affirm this connection. Rubio expressed gratitude to DOGE for cutting funding to USAID's programs, and Musk responded that it was “good” working with Rubio. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt noted that they dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday.
Furthermore, Rubio and Musk publicly confronted Radosław Sikorski, Poland's foreign minister and an ally of the U.S. After Musk suggested that Ukraine's defenses could falter if he ceased his Starlink satellite services, Sikorski remarked that Poland was paying for those services and might seek alternatives if terminated. Rubio dismissed Sikorski's comments as “making up” a threat and advised him to “say thank you” for Starlink. Musk added to the conversation, advising Sikorski to “be quiet, small man.”
Perhaps targeting common adversaries—including some U.S. allies—will solidify the partnership between Rubio and Musk as they move forward. However, Rubio faces significant decisions ahead as he reconfigures the State Department. He has managed to delay Musk’s ambitions for now, but the sustainability of their forced camaraderie remains to be seen.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
The previously unreported meeting was described as cordial, with some even categorizing it as lighthearted. However, underlying their conversation were some notable disagreements. Musk, the world’s wealthiest person and a key adviser to President Donald Trump, advocated for significant and swift cuts at the State Department. In contrast, Rubio was open to major reductions but preferred to take a more measured approach. He was already grappling with the repercussions of rapid changes at USAID, as well as dealing with various global crises. He felt that alterations at the State Department should be implemented thoughtfully and systematically.
According to an individual familiar with the matter, their initial meeting concluded amicably. However, last week, the two again expressed their differing views in front of Trump. An official close to Rubio characterized this subsequent meeting, which included other Cabinet members, as calmer than reported in a previous New York Times article. Nonetheless, the official did not dispute the accuracy of the article, which covered their disagreements regarding personnel changes at the State Department, with Rubio advocating for a more strategic approach to the department’s restructuring. During this latest meeting, Musk allegedly accused Rubio of dismissing a staff member from the Department of Government Efficiency.
The official emphasized that with numerous global challenges at stake, “nobody wants the State Department to be in a position where USAID was, where it had difficulty operating.”
For Rubio, the battle over the future of the State Department is about more than just safeguarding America's diplomatic engagement; it is about maintaining his influence within the Trump administration.
He finds himself in a complex environment filled with rivals. While Rubio holds the title of chief U.S. diplomat, he faces competition from several other Trump appointees who seek to influence foreign policy, including Musk and various special envoys. As Musk inches closer to his domain, Rubio understands the need to establish boundaries while navigating delicate dynamics.
Adding to the challenge is the fact that Rubio’s historical foreign policy positions often contradict Trump's approach. This tension has led him to adopt stances that conflict with his established reputation, such as criticizing the Polish foreign minister recently.
“He's in this awkward situation,” remarked Gerald Feierstein, a former diplomat and U.S. ambassador to Yemen. “He's doing things that he fundamentally believes are bad policy and bad steps. He's got to go along with it because Musk and Trump are standing between him and his higher ambition of being president.”
Though he is not the only Cabinet member facing backlash from Musk's actions, Rubio has drawn significant attention due to the rapid dismantling of USAID so early into Trump's presidency and the national security risks presented by cutting the State Department. Additionally, he is perceived as one of the weaker appointees within the administration.
To counteract this perception, Rubio has taken advantage of his position as Secretary of State to showcase his accomplishments for Trump. He has been actively engaged in discussions regarding the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, has encouraged Panama to reduce its ties with China amid Trump's threats regarding the Panama Canal, and has supported Trump's immigration enforcement efforts. Rubio has traveled extensively, promoting the Trump agenda at significant events, such as the Munich Security Conference and his visit to Israel.
At times, he has appeared somewhat out of place. For instance, his silence during a moment when Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy even inspired a parody on "Saturday Night Live." Nevertheless, Rubio has worked to dispel doubts about his alignment with Trump, frequently appearing on television to support viewpoints he once opposed as a senator.
Rubio has publicly endorsed the idea of dismantling USAID, although the decision was largely out of his hands. By the time he was appointed as USAID’s acting administrator, Musk and Pet Marocco, a Trump political appointee, had significantly weakened the institution.
Despite this, Rubio bore much of the subsequent criticism from Congress, the judiciary, and his own staff, even while lacking real authority over the situation at USAID.
The dynamics at the State Department feel different for Rubio, and he is less willing to let it be compromised in the same manner as USAID.
He finds common ground on fundamental reforms, including staff reductions and closing certain diplomatic facilities, but he intends to restructure the department in a way that satisfies Trump while keeping Musk’s influence in check, all while protecting his primary source of power. If he permits Musk to implement drastic changes without a coherent strategy, he risks undermining both the department and his own authority. Observers from foreign governments are closely monitoring the situation, frequently inquiring if Rubio remains the best point of contact amid the chaos of the Trump administration.
“Rubio wants to be a diplomat,” the source stated. “Everything DOGE does creates problems for him in terms of diplomacy.”
While lists proposing the closure of consulates and the dismissal of employees have been circulating for some time, Rubio has yet to take action—much to Musk’s frustration.
Last week, some Rubio aides and individuals from the National Security Council attempted to push Marocco out of his position, but Rubio sided with other senior officials who preferred to retain him, according to the source.
The official close to Rubio denied that any such move took place. Marocco's team sent a statement in which he called Trump and Rubio “historic patriots” and said it was the “honor of a lifetime” to serve them in “reforming and realigning foreign assistance,” although he did not address job security questions.
The official emphasized the need for patience, a challenging request for U.S. diplomats facing job uncertainties.
“Good, substantive reforms take time,” the official explained. “The president's been pretty clear that there need to be significant changes in the way that the federal government is organized. I think every Cabinet secretary is going about that in their own specific way to make sure those changes are smart, they stick, and that core capabilities and functions are retained.”
The State Department opted not to comment, but a senior official there emphasized that Musk and Rubio maintain a “great relationship” and are collaboratively working to “correct the failures of the last administration.”
Musk did not respond to requests for comment.
Trump is attempting to balance multiple interests. During the recent Cabinet meeting, he allowed agency heads to run their departments while indicating Musk would serve as an enforcer to ensure that cuts are implemented.
He also insisted that Rubio and Musk are on amicable terms, stating, “ELON AND MARCO HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP. ANY STATEMENT OTHER THAN THAT IS FAKE NEWS!!!” on Truth Social over the weekend.
Both Rubio and Musk are now making efforts to publicly affirm this connection. Rubio expressed gratitude to DOGE for cutting funding to USAID's programs, and Musk responded that it was “good” working with Rubio. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt noted that they dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday.
Furthermore, Rubio and Musk publicly confronted Radosław Sikorski, Poland's foreign minister and an ally of the U.S. After Musk suggested that Ukraine's defenses could falter if he ceased his Starlink satellite services, Sikorski remarked that Poland was paying for those services and might seek alternatives if terminated. Rubio dismissed Sikorski's comments as “making up” a threat and advised him to “say thank you” for Starlink. Musk added to the conversation, advising Sikorski to “be quiet, small man.”
Perhaps targeting common adversaries—including some U.S. allies—will solidify the partnership between Rubio and Musk as they move forward. However, Rubio faces significant decisions ahead as he reconfigures the State Department. He has managed to delay Musk’s ambitions for now, but the sustainability of their forced camaraderie remains to be seen.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
