‘Little Marco’ vs ‘Small hands’: Trump and Rubio’s history of spats as VP rumours ramp up

As speculation mounts around whether Florida Sen Marco Rubio could be Donald Trump’s pick for vice president, the duo’s history of internet-famous fights — that gave America unforgettable nicknames for the two politicians — has returned to the spotlight.

The Florida Senator suggested on Thursday that he and the former president had buried the hatchet, appearing open to the opportunity to serve as Mr Trump’s number two, should he be elected.

Mr Rubio called a chance to serve as vice president “an honor and an incredible opportunity to serve our country.” However, he put some rumours to rest, clarifying, “Never once have I talked to [Trump] about the vice presidency.”

The Florida lawmaker’s statement may come as a shock to some, who may remember the duo’s relationship being less than amicable. But their history of spats — which quickly devolved into name-calling and jokes about the other’s physical appearance — seems to have been resolved.

“We’ve had a great working relationship — we ran against each other, so at one point we were competitors — but since 2016, especially when he was president, we worked really well together,” Mr Rubio said.

Here is a look back at the war of words between Mr Trump and Mr Rubio:

Their feud began in 2016 as both men vied for the Republican nomination.

Mr Trump made the first move. He first targeted his perspiration.

In September 2015, in an interview with “Kilmeade & Friends” on Fox News Radio, Mr Trump remarked after a GOP debate: “Marco Rubio, I’ve never seen anybody sweat like that and you know a lot of these guys are serious sweaters.”

Then Mr Trump attacked his record.

Mr Trump called the Florida Senator “Marco ‘amnesty’ Rubio” in a tweet, describing him as having the “worst voting