Sometimes, it’s the small things that end up defining a moment in politics. For Senator Marco Rubio, one of those moments arrived during his State of the Union response in 2013. His mouth is visibly dry and after debating taking a sip he maintained eye contact with the camera for the entire time. Ultimate cringe, leaving viewers (and meme-creators) with plenty of material.
The incident highlighted something both endearing and all too human: no one is immune to moments of imperfection, even in high-stakes environments. For a brief second, his polished political persona cracked, showing us a more relatable, slightly awkward side. And in today’s internet-driven world, a small sip can go viral in a heartbeat.
Years later, Rubio himself embraced the humor, even poking fun at it on social media. This “watergate” moment serves as a reminder that sometimes, the most memorable parts of public life come from unplanned, unscripted moments. It’s a lesson for all public figures: a quick drink can quickly make history.