Senate Democrats on Tuesday used hearings with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to unleash criticism of the Trump administration's pivot toward Russia, selective refugee admissions, deportation of student activists and gutting of U.S. soft-power programs.

The hearing, nominally to discuss Trump’s 2026 foreign funding request, provided the first public opportunity for Senate Democrats, and some Republicans, to directly confront their former senate colleague since unanimously confirming him five months ago.

“I have to tell you directly and personally that I regret voting for you for Secretary of State,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), during one of the more tense exchanges with the former Florida Senator.

“Your regret for voting for me confirms that I’m doing a good job,” Rubio retorted.

“We deported gang members, gang members including the one you had a margarita with,” Rubio said, referencing an attempt by El Salvador’s president to frame Van Hollen’s meeting with a man mistakenly deported to the country as chat over tropical drinks.

Van Hollen later posted on the social media site X that Rubio had a “a full MAGA lobotomy.”

“The Marco Rubio who testified today is not the one I served with in the Senate,” he posted.

Rubio holds the distinction of being the only Trump cabinet member to receive unanimous confirmation from the Senate, but Rubio’s positions as a senator – supportive of foreign assistance,........

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