ABC News’ Sunday morning show, “This Week,” featured a segment with Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) discussing current events and potential political opportunities. Senator Rubio is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Vice Chair of the Select Committee on Intelligence.
The discussion started with Senator Rubio and host Jonathan Karl discussing the recent attack by ISIS-K in Moscow. Rubio condemned the horrific attack and noted the potential for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas if Hamas would surrender.
The conversation then shifted to rumors that former President Donald Trump may be considering Senator Rubio as a potential running mate. Rubio stated that it would be an honor to be offered such an opportunity and that anyone in public service should be honored by the chance to serve their country. However, he also stated that he has not had any discussions with Trump or his team about the vice presidency.
Karl expressed disbelief at the idea that Rubio would want to associate himself with Trump or his administration. He pointed to the events that unfolded on January 6 when a mob stormed the Capitol and chanted “Hang Mike Pence.” President Trump defended these chants, which led Karl to question why Rubio would want to potentially align himself with Trump after these events.
Sen. Marco Rubio says anyone would be “honored” to serve as VP, but tells @JonKarl that he has not spoken with former Pres. Trump about being his running mate.
“That’s the decision he’s going to make. He has plenty of really good people to pick from.” https://t.co/MFPmHskhoN pic.twitter.com/B2BVL9W4S6
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) March 24, 2024
Rubio responded by saying that under Trump’s presidency, the country was safer and more prosperous. He also noted that during Trump’s term, he had successfully built strong relationships with countries in the Western Hemisphere, which was a part of the world that Rubio cares deeply about. In contrast, he criticized the current administration under President Joe Biden, labeling it a “disaster.”
When Karl questioned how Biden could be responsible for the current chaos and conflicts, Rubio firmly stated that Biden’s weakness and decisions were causing these problems. Karl brought up Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing turmoil in Haiti, to which Rubio again placed the blame on Biden. He argued that other nations may see Biden’s handling of the Afghanistan situation and internal issues, such as illegal immigration, as a sign of weakness, making them more likely to act aggressively.
The two then turned their attention to a potential deal between Russia and Ukraine, with Karl suggesting that Trump had proposed giving Putin what he wanted. Rubio clarified that Trump had expressed a desire for peace in the region and for Ukraine to have the upper hand in negotiations.
Throughout their conversation, Karl remained skeptical of Rubio’s statements and repeatedly questioned whether Biden could truly be responsible for the current state of international affairs. However, Rubio stood firm in his belief that Biden’s decisions and leadership have played a significant role in the chaos and conflicts happening around the world.
This segment on “This Week” highlighted the stark contrast between the views of Senator Rubio and host Jonathan Karl. While Karl expressed doubt and disbelief, Rubio maintained that Trump’s presidency was successful and argued that Biden’s administration has been disastrous. This exchange also shed light on the ongoing political discussions surrounding potential running mates for the 2024 presidential election, with Rubio being among those mentioned for the role.
