The 'Little Marco' meme originated during the 2016 Republican presidential primary when candidate Donald Trump coined the nickname to belittle Senator Marco Rubio. The phrase quickly became a viral sensation, epitomizing Trump's aggressive branding of his political opponents. It gained further traction after a series of heated debates where Rubio's height and youthful appearance were mocked, leading to various photoshopped images and video clips emphasizing his perceived 'small' stature. Today, the meme is used to represent anyone who is being outmatched, underestimated, or publicly put in their place by a more dominant personality, serving as a staple of political internet culture.