The rivalry between Marco Rubio and Donald Trump was one of the most contentious and personal in recent political history. As the 2016 Republican primary campaign intensified, Rubio became one of Trump's most vocal and persistent critics, launching a barrage of attacks that went well beyond policy disagreements.
Personal Attacks and Insults
Rubio repeatedly mocked Trump's physical appearance, dubbing him "Donald Trump, the con artist" and making references to the size of his hands and other body parts.
In one instance, Rubio suggested that Trump had wet himself during a debate, saying, "You know what they say, 'When they're not sweating, they're not lying.'" This line of attack aimed to undermine Trump's strongman persona and portray him as weak and unprepared for the presidency.
The personal nature of the feud reached a new low when the two men engaged in a series of insults and taunts during a televised debate. Trump mocked Rubio's sweating and even suggested that the senator had a small penis, saying, "He referred to my hands — 'if they're small, something else must be small.' I guarantee you there's no problem. I guarantee." Rubio responded in kind, saying, "You know what they say about men with small hands? You can't trust them." The exchange was widely criticized as a descent into juvenile name-calling.
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Attacks on Trump's Business Record
Rubio frequently criticized Trump's business record, accusing him of "sticking it to the little guy" and exploiting workers.
"You know, his businesses have gone bankrupt not once, not twice, but four times," Rubio said during a debate. "And every time he filed for bankruptcy, he stuck it to the little guys, the contractors, the employees."
Rubio was particularly critical of Trump's handling of the 2008 financial crisis, arguing that the real estate mogul had profited off the misery of others. "He talked about how he made a lot of money because of the housing crisis," Rubio said. "He actually said, and I quote, 'And that's called business, by the way.'"
Questioning Trump's Fitness for Office
Rubio's attacks extended beyond Trump's personal and professional conduct, as he also sought to question the former president's fitness for office. During one debate, Rubio declared, "If he hadn't inherited $200 million, you know where Donald Trump would be right now? Selling watches in Manhattan."
The Florida senator also mocked Trump's policy positions, particularly his signature proposal to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. "The front-runner in the Republican primary right now has as his main economic policy that he's going to have a trade war with China and cut off all trade with China," Rubio said. "That's not a policy, that's a soundbite."
As the campaign wore on, Rubio's attacks only intensified, with the senator even suggesting that Trump was not a true conservative. "If you want someone who is going to go to Washington, D.C., and ignore the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, then Donald Trump is your guy," Rubio said.
Defending Conservative Principles
Rubio positioned himself as the true conservative in the race, contrasting his principled stance with Trump's populist rhetoric and unconventional policy proposals. He argued that Trump's proposals, such as his proposed Muslim ban and his willingness to engage in torture, were antithetical to conservative values and would damage the Republican Party's reputation.
"I don't think we're going to be a party that defends torture," Rubio said during a debate. "I don't think we're going to be a party that engages in trade wars that will undermine our economy. And I don't think we're going to be a party that passes laws that violate the Constitution."
Rubio also criticized Trump's lack of political experience and his tendency to make outlandish statements, suggesting that the former reality TV star was more interested in generating headlines than offering substantive solutions to the country's problems.
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