Spine Check
‘Con artist’ → later alignment: Rubio’s recorded reversal
Statement date: 2026
Action date: 2024-03-01
Outcome: A public ‘con artist’ warning became later political alignment.
Action date: 2024-03-01
Outcome: A public ‘con artist’ warning became later political alignment.
Spine Card
Person: Marco Rubio — U.S. Senator / former presidential candidate
Statement date: 2016-02-26
Action date: 2024-03-01
Outcome: A public ‘con artist’ warning became later political alignment.
Statement date: 2016-02-26
Action date: 2024-03-01
Outcome: A public ‘con artist’ warning became later political alignment.
What was said
On February 26, 2016, Rubio publicly framed Trump as a “con artist” and argued the conservative movement should not be “turned over” to him.
What happened next
After the primary, Rubio’s posture shifted toward accommodation and alignment. This entry is built on the easiest kind of receipt: the subject’s own recorded words.
Receipts timeline
2016-02-26
Rubio calls Trump a “con artist” in public remarks and campaign messaging.
2016–2024
Rubio’s relationship to Trump evolves from critic to cooperative party actor.
Bottom line
If you publicly warn the public about a “con artist,” then later normalize and align with him, that’s what Spine Check is for.