The Secretary of State Marco Rubio unexpectedly interrupted the press room at the White House this Wednesday to pull a prank, at a time when the podium's holder, Karoline Leavitt, has been on maternity leave since April 18.
According to the video shared on X by journalist Samira Gharaei, Rubio entered the press room and explained to the reporters present that he was there solely to take a photo and play a prank on someone in particular.
"I'm just here to take a photo. Now you're going to ruin my joke. You can't publish this. Is that okay? I know how to pretend. Today I'm going to pretend. Can you wait at least an hour? It's not a joke for the public. It's a joke for one person," Rubio said to reporters.
The joke was aimed directly at Leavitt, who gave birth to her second child, Abraham, on April 17 and started her leave the following day.
With the press secretary absent, Rubio's appearance on the podium humorously suggested that he could add that role to his already extensive list of responsibilities.
Gharaei interpreted the gesture in this way: "Since Rubio has become known for assuming multiple roles, it seems that the joke was aimed at her, suggesting that, for now, Rubio might also be acting as the White House press secretary."
The joke has a real and well-documented basis. Since May 2025, Trump appointed Rubio as National Security Advisor while he continued to hold his position as Secretary of State, an unprecedented combination in recent U.S. politics.
That accumulation of power made him the most versatile official in the Trump administration, historically comparable to Henry Kissinger.
Among his most notable actions is being akey architect in the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January of this year, as well as his involvement in negotiations regarding Gaza, Ukraine, and the Middle East.
On April 15, Rubio was included in the TIME100 list of the most influential people in the world, a recognition that reinforces his profile as a central figure in U.S. foreign policy.
In addition, sources from the White House indicate him as a potential Republican presidential candidate for 2028, and Republican donors are already planning to support his candidacy since last March.
Leavitt, 28 years old, is known for her dedication to work even during critical personal moments: in July 2024, she returned to Trump’s campaign just four days after giving birth to her first son, Nicholas, following the attack in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Gharaei concluded his publication with an ironic note: "This Labor Day will be even more special for him," referring to the number of positions that Rubio holds in the administration.
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