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Trump’s crony diplomacy is marginalizing Marco Rubio

by Brahma Chellaney, opinion contributor - 10/29/26 8:00 AM ET

by Brahma Chellaney, opinion contributor - 10/29/26 8:00 AM ET

Alex Brandon, Associated Press President Trump greets Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a campaign rally at the Port of Corpus Christi on Oct. 27, 2026, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Outsourcing high-stakes diplomacy to family members and business associates would provoke public outrage in most democracies. President Trump, however, has normalized the practice.

In this model of crony diplomacy, personal loyalty, private gain and informal networks routinely override institutional processes and the national interest, while accountability diminishes.

Against this backdrop, it may scarcely be surprising that Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent overseas travels have skirted the world’s main hot spots.…