Besides, all of this is more than just a backhand compliment. It is silly, but it acknowledges he seems to be doing an outsized amount of work for this administration.
Trump appears to be fully aware of this type of meme, and even he engaged in it just a few days ago at this link: 'Drop him in Cuba': Rubio bursts out laughing at Trump's joke
TRUMP:. You know, Marco's parents were born in Cuba. It's like a great story. And he wants to figure it all out. Marco, right? You want to figure out what's exactly there. I think he has. I think he has figured it out. So, we someday in the near future, drop them off in the middle of Cuba. Just on the way back. [laughter] on the way back from Iran, have one of those big, beautiful aircraft carriers fly him in, drop him off, and he'll figure out the rest. He always does.
It appears to be a funny meme to Rubio, and it just lightens things up.
It also increases public awareness of him. It's humorous and positive and that sticks.
Cuber.