The president Donald Trump praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly again this Tuesday during his State of the Union address, even giving him a significant political compliment.
“And I also want to thank the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio”, Trump stated first before the full Congress.
He went on to say that Rubio "is liked by people," and recalled that he was the only member of his cabinet who received 100 percent of the votes in his confirmation process before the Senate.
“Some of the Democrats now don’t understand why they approved it,” he noted ironically.
"He is a great Secretary of State, perhaps the best,” concluded the president, leaving the highest compliment that the leader of a country can give to a member of their cabinet.
The mention occurred on a politically charged night at the Capitol, during an address marked by references to foreign policy, the economy, and immigration.
Rubio had previously entered the chamber to applause, with legislators and attendees rising to their feet as he passed, in a scene that reflected the influence he has gained within the administration.
Praise is pouring in for Marco
This is not the first time that Trump has directly praised his Secretary of State in recent months.
Just a few days ago, he described it as “fantastic” following his participation in the Munich Security Conference, where Rubio delivered a speech to European leaders focused on strategic alliances and international security.
Shortly after, the president shifted the spotlight back to Marco Rubio by publicly praising him during the inaugural meeting of the newly formed Peace Board in Washington D.C.
Amid comments about his team and recent diplomatic results, Trump made a joke that did not go unnoticed, after claiming he was "about" to fire Rubio, following the impact of his intervention at the Munich Security Conference, where the Cuban-American was greeted with a standing ovation.
The president suggested that Rubio received so much praise that some wondered why Trump couldn't speak the same way, to which he responded in his usual style: "I do it, but I say it differently."
The increasing visibility of the head of U.S. diplomacy comes in a context where Rubio has taken on an active role in key issues such as Latin America, Cuba, Venezuela, and Iran.
In Washington, his name is beginning to be mentioned as a possible contender for the 2028 presidential elections.
Trump has been asked on various occasions about that scenario, and although he has avoided formally endorsing any candidate, he has not ruled out that possibility, merely emphasizing Rubio's performance.
The State of the Union address, which lasted 108 minutes, focused on defending the economic policies of the current administration and delivered a harsher message against "illegal" immigrants.
Trump also dedicated part of his speech to Venezuela, where he discussed the operation against Nicolás Maduro, as well as regional security and the fight against organized crime.
In this context, the praise for Rubio has not gone unnoticed and reinforces the public profile of one of the most prominent officials in the current cabinet.
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