Some of Secretary of State Marco Rubio's former Democratic colleagues are already expressing regret over their votes in support of the former senator.

But his boosters on both sides of the aisle aren't ready to give up on his ability to influence President Trump.

“Long term he will have a real influence. Short term, I think he's probably still getting his feet on the ground,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a staunch Ukraine supporter, told The Hill.

“As long as they provide him with the opportunity to make a difference, Marco can do some really good things for this administration.”

Confirmed on day one of the administration, Rubio has been a spokesperson for a foreign policy that often diverges from his past positions, particularly those on the Ukraine war and standing up to Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin.

Rubio has also been the face of Trump and Elon Musk’s crusade against the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which has been reduced to a shell by a spending freeze and mass firings. And Trump appeared to put Rubio in charge of the tall task of gaining control of the Panama Canal, joking during his joint address to Congress that he’d know who to blame if the efforts fail.

“Marco’s been amazing, and he’s going to do a great job,” the president added.

But nothing is testing Rubio’s credibility in the Senate like Trump’s hard shift toward Putin, and away from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a push for peace talks.

“His position now is secretary of sycophants, not secretary of State,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).

“Senator Rubio, his words, his actions, his legislation, he was one way, and somehow when he walked through that door and took that oath to become secretary, they are not one and the........

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