Secretary of State Marco Rubio clashed with NBC News on Tuesday after he became President Trump’s first Cabinet pick to be confirmed by the Senate.
Rubio appeared on TV where he was asked by the host about the president’s act to pardon nearly 1,600 January 6 rioters on his first day in office.
Right out of the gate, NBC’s Craig Melvin pointed out that Rubio, who was serving in the Senate at the time, called the attack on the U.S. Capitol in 2021 one of the saddest days in the country’s history.
He then played a clip of Rubio four years ago after the insurrection decrying the violence.
‘Vladimir Putin loved everything that happened today because what happened is better than anything he could ever come up with to make us look like we’re falling apart,’ Rubio said at the time.
Melvin asked Rubio what messaging pardoning January 6 rioters sends to the rest of the world.
‘Well we’re going to focus on what makes America stronger and more prosperous and safer,’ Rubio responded.
‘I’m not going to engage in domestic political debates. I can’t in the role at State Department,’ he added.
Newly confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio clashed with NBC after being pressed about Trump’s January 6 pardons rather than foreign policy
Rubio argued his role is to focus on foreign policy and called it the most straightforward policy in modern times.
Melvin pushed back that he wanted to talk foreign policy, but questioned if a crowd is displeased at the U.S. Capitol in the future, ‘who’s to say they don’t just do it again?’
The newly confirmed top diplomat said he understands, but he also fired back.
‘I think it’s unfortunate you know, our first engagement as I agree to come on this morning with you, I’m going to be working on foreign policy issues, and you want to revisit these issues that are going on in domestic politics… it’s not going to happen,’ Rubio said.
He then suggested if NBC had questions about foreign policy, he’d be happy to talk about it.
Their back and forth came after Rubio, a onetime Trump critic turned ally, was confirmed as secretary of state soon after Trump was sworn into office in a confirmation vote 99 to 0.
Vice President JD Vance swearing in Marco Rubio as secretary of state on January 21, 2025 after he was Trump’s first Cabinet pick confirmed by the Senate 99 to 0
Secretary of State Rubio speaking to State Department staff on Tuesday after being sworn into office
He was the president’s first Cabinet pick to be confirmed in the Senate as he was seen as a shoe-in with his former colleagues from both sides of the aisle.
After their awkward exchange, the interview did shift to foreign policy where Rubio was asked about the war in Ukraine and if there would be an imminent end.
‘I think what the president has made very clear is that the war needs to end,’ he said.
He said it’s the policy of the U.S. to promote peace around the world.
Rubio said the war in Ukraine is one Russia started and a complex issue.
‘It’s going to be an official policy of the United States that the war has to end,’ he said. ‘We’re going to do everything possible to bring that about.’
But Rubio said ‘every side is going to have to give something.’
Melvin asked if there were no consequence for Russia invading Ukraine, what message it would sent to potential bad actors.
Rubio pushed back that Russia has faced consequences including ‘crippling sanctions from all over the world.’
He also argued they have lost tens-of-thousands of lives, are facing inflation and did not achieve their objective to take Ukraine.
The secretary of state said the current situation is a stalemate with massive damage being done to Ukraine.
