U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that President Donald Trump has proactively addressed national security threats that previous leaders failed to confront, particularly defending his stance on Iran, despite potential unpopularity.
In a video shared by the State Department on Sunday, Rubio justified Trump's approach toward Iran's nuclear program, emphasizing that presidents must make difficult decisions when deemed necessary to safeguard the nation.
"A few days ago, the President of the United States identified a longstanding, very real threat to our country and took action," Rubio asserted, emphasizing that addressing security challenges doesn't always ensure public approval.
He recalled the historical bipartisan consensus among Republicans and Democrats about the dangers posed by a nuclear-armed Iran, while expressing uncertainty about the current state of that political agreement.
"I believe we all agreed—hopefully still agree, though perhaps not as strongly as before—that a nuclear Iran is completely unacceptable and dangerous, not only for the United States but for the entire world," Rubio remarked.
Rubio credited Trump with tackling an issue that past American presidents had left unresolved.
"I think the President took on something that others hadn't managed to address. Sometimes doing what's right isn't necessarily popular, but it's still necessary. Presidents are elected to tackle the tough, sometimes unpopular, but essential issues," he stated.
In another segment released by the State Department, Rubio addressed U.S. policy on potential regional threats, asserting that Washington will act to protect its military personnel and commercial shipping.
"The U.S. acts defensively. If there's a threat to our forces in the region, we will respond," he declared.
He explained that the U.S. has long safeguarded maritime transport and that any response will hinge on the presence of threats to its forces or vessels in the area.
"If there's a clear and present danger to navigation or our forces, we have the right to defend ourselves. It all depends on the level of threat and whether it targets us directly," Rubio explained.
His comments followed a speech on Friday at a conservative event in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, where he defended Trump's policy on Iran, arguing that it would have been easier to leave the problem for a future administration.
"He was elected to handle the difficult issues," Rubio stated, pointing out that previous presidents chose to ignore the Iranian issue. He also expressed pride in being part of the Trump administration and defended the President's decisions as measures to protect Americans.
Rubio's praise for Trump is not new. In May, he had already presented Trump as the first American president to take concrete steps to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
"Every U.S. president has said Iran can't have a nuclear weapon. This is the first president who is actually doing something concrete about it," he declared at that time.
In March, during the Shield of the Americas summit in Miami, Rubio also lauded Trump's policy towards Latin America, noting that he had made the region a priority for his administration.
"Many presidents have said they would do it, but he's the one who has actually done it," he affirmed then, speaking in Spanish to the assembled Latin American leaders.
Key Questions on U.S. Policy and National Security
What actions has Trump taken against Iran?
Trump has implemented measures aimed at deterring Iran from developing nuclear weapons, a move his predecessors did not take.
Why does Marco Rubio support Trump's decisions?
Rubio supports Trump's decisions because he believes they address longstanding national security threats and prioritize the safety of Americans.
How has the U.S. responded to threats in the region?
The U.S. has taken defensive actions to protect its military forces and ensure the safety of commercial shipping in areas where threats are present.