Marco Rubio
ON THE RECORD · 57 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“Every time they create a new mechanism in which they try to get out of the noose, we just close it off,”
Marco Rubio · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-30
Rubio announced a new round of sanctions on Aug. 20 amid heightened U.S.-Cuba tensions.
“demonstrates how President Trump's bold foreign policy is driving America First wins: securing stable reserves and low-cost oil in our Hemisphere and lowering gas prices here at home.”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-29
Rubio praised the agreement on X, calling it a huge win for both countries.
“For the Venezuelan people, this deal will bring nearly $100bn (£74bn) in private investment, support thousands of high-paying jobs and drive the reconstruction of Venezuela's economy,”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-29
Marco Rubio outlined the expected economic advantages of the oil deal for the Venezuelan people.
“For the Venezuelan people, this deal will bring nearly $100 billion in private investment, support thousands of high-paying jobs, and drive the reconstruction of Venezuela's economy,”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-29
Rubio said on social media that the deal would bring major investment and jobs to Venezuela.
“a huge win for both the American and Venezuelan people”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-29
Marco Rubio praised the energy agreement reached between the US and Venezuela.
“This deal is a huge win for both the American and Venezuelan people,”
Marco Rubio · said 2026-08-28 · reported 2026-08-28
Rubio wrote on social media about the new US oil agreement with Venezuela.
“unlock international trade and investment”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-26
Rubio said lifting the designation will unlock international trade and investment and give Syria a chance to rebuild.
“mined large segments of Hormuz – international waters”
Marco Rubio · said 2026-06-02 · reported 2026-08-26
Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Iran had mined large segments of Hormuz.
“investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government has not consented to ICC jurisdiction”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-21
Marco Rubio criticized the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction over officials from non-member governments.
“misleading and corrupting American citizens with lies, spy tradecraft and malfeasance”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-21
Rubio accused the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) of misleading American citizens.
“ferrying a new brigade of international sympathizers to Havana to network with regime officials”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-21
Rubio accused various figures of ferrying international sympathizers to Havana in a statement about the new sanctions.
“Today's designations make clear that the Trump Administration will not tolerate the Cuban regime's efforts to fund its repression or continue its decades-long campaign of subversive anti-American activities.”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-21
Rubio said the new sanctions show the Trump administration will not tolerate the Cuban regime's repression or subversive activities.
“part of the regime's raison d'être of exporting Marxism, racial resentment, and Communist violence across the world”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-21
Rubio said the sanctioned figures are part of the Cuban regime's effort to export Marxism and Communist violence.
“brick by brick, if necessary”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-21
Marco Rubio vowed to dismantle the International Criminal Court.
“We expect more countries to join our campaign by ending their funding and participation in this politicized and unaccountable court.”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-21
Marco Rubio called on other nations to halt their funding and participation in the International Criminal Court.
“I strongly suggest that anyone tempted to try and follow his example should carefully reconsider, because if they do they would be dooming themselves to failure as well.”
Marco Rubio · said 2026-08-13 · reported 2026-08-20
Rubio warned against following Castro's example in the same X post.
“Fidel Castro was a complete failure at everything except destroying Cuba and impoverishing, jailing and murdering his own people,”
Marco Rubio · said 2026-08-13 · reported 2026-08-20
Rubio condemned Fidel Castro's legacy in a post on X about Castro's death.
“exporting Marxism, racial resentment, and Communist violence across the world”
Marco Rubio · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Rubio claimed ICAP's activities help Cuba spread Marxism and Communist influence internationally.
“The president's policy is a head for an eye. I mean, honestly, that's what it's going to be. I mean, they will pay a very heavy price,”
Marco Rubio · said 2026-07-22 · reported 2026-08-20
Rubio made this statement on July 22 at The Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in the Philippines, describing Trump's military policy toward Iran.
“The Trump Administration will not stand by while a hostile foreign power seeks to exploit our freedoms — none of which are afforded to its people — by misleading and corrupting American citizens with lies, spy tradecraft, and other malfeasance,”
Marco Rubio · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Rubio's written statement accompanying the sanctions announcement described Cuba's government as a national security threat.
“sustain the regime’s repressive apparatus”
Marco Rubio · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Rubio accused the sanctioned mining and construction companies of aiding Cuba's government repression.
“The ICC’s ability to target American nationals and those of other non-States Parties must end.”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-19
Rubio argued the ICC should not be able to target Americans or nationals of other non-member states.
“has maliciously abused its authority and exceeded its mandate.”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-19
Rubio accused the ICC of abusing its authority in the same statement announcing sanctions.
“In fact, in some cases, they've actually been quite cooperative in regards to what they potentially could have done but didn't do.”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-19
Rubio said China had been cooperative regarding actions it could have taken but didn't.
“Nothing that China has done has in any way changed the trajectory ... in terms of the conflicts we're having with Iran,”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-19
Rubio downplayed China's role in the Iran conflict in remarks made last month.
“corrupt and fatally politicized.”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-19
Rubio described the ICC in a statement announcing sanctions against two of its top officials.
“These individuals have directly engaged in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government has not consented to ICC jurisdiction,”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-19
Rubio said this in a statement explaining the reasoning for sanctioning ICC officials.
“Our whole of government campaign to dismantle the threat posed by the ICC to national sovereignty will be sweeping and we expect more countries to join our campaign by ending their funding and participation in this politicized and unaccountable court,”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-19
Rubio described the administration's broader campaign against the ICC.
“sweeping campaign to dismantle the threat posed by the international criminal court to US sovereignty.”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-19
Rubio had earlier announced a broader US campaign against the ICC.
“a corrupt and fatally politicized supranational court that has maliciously abused its authority and exceeded its mandate”
Marco Rubio · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Rubio criticized the ICC while announcing the sanctions.
“stands ready to support the people of Colombia.”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-11
The U.S. Secretary of State said in a social media post that the Trump administration was closely monitoring the earthquake.
“If we create a precedent in the Middle East where a nation state can decide that they are going to control an international waterway, charge a toll, and if you don’t pay them, blow up your ships. We have created a very dangerous precedent,”
Marco Rubio · said 2026-07-22 · reported 2026-07-22
Rubio said at an ASEAN meeting in Manila that Washington is still willing to pursue diplomacy with Iran but Tehran must show it is serious about talks.
“putting his own ego ahead of making a deal.”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-07-16
Rubio said the tariffs were the price of Lula putting his own ego ahead of making a deal.
“not negotiated in good faith”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2026-07-16
Rubio posted on X shortly after the tariff announcement, accusing Lula's government of not negotiating in good faith.
“ongoing attacks on shipping and countries in the region.”
Marco Rubio · said 2026-07-15 · reported 2026-07-15
Rubio described Iran's ongoing attacks on shipping and countries in the region in a post on X.
“important role in advancing regional security.”
Marco Rubio · said 2026-07-15 · reported 2026-07-15
Rubio thanked Jordan's foreign minister for Jordan's important role in advancing regional security during a meeting in Washington.
“are committed to an immediate cessation of violence and expect the governments of Cambodia and Thailand to fully honor their commitments to end this conflict.”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2025-07-29
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio applauded the ceasefire declaration in a press statement.
“ordered visa revocations for Moraes and his allies on the court, as well as their immediate family members effective immediately.”
Marco Rubio · said 2025-07-18 · reported 2025-07-18
Rubio announced US visa revocations targeting Brazilian Supreme Court officials.
“the most deliberate way of anyone that’s done one.”
Marco Rubio · said 2025-07-10 · reported 2025-07-11
Marco Rubio defended the Trump administration's methodical approach to reorganizing the State Department.
“But if you’ve closed the bureau, you don’t need those positions.”
Marco Rubio · said 2025-07-10 · reported 2025-07-11
Marco Rubio explained why closing bureaus naturally results in position cuts.
“The reduction of force is a consequence of the reorg. It’s not a consequence of trying to get rid of people,”
Marco Rubio · said 2025-07-10 · reported 2025-07-11
Marco Rubio explained the workforce reductions to reporters during a press briefing in Malaysia.
“The Chinese clearly have been supportive of the Russian effort, and I think that generally, they’ve been willing to help them as much as they can without getting caught. But people in Europe and other parts of the world have noticed,”
Marco Rubio · said 2025-07-10 · reported 2025-07-10
Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on China's covert support for Russia's war effort.
“a very limited review of certain types of munitions to ensure that we had sufficient stockpiles.”
Marco Rubio · said 2025-07-10 · reported 2025-07-10
Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified the nature of the pause in US weapons shipments to Ukraine.
“There are other Patriot batteries and there are other opportunities. Countries that have ordered Patriot batteries that are about to receive shipments of them, it’d be great if one of them volunteered to defer that shipment and send it to Ukraine instead,”
Marco Rubio · said 2025-07-10 · reported 2025-07-10
Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the possibility of other nations sending Patriot missile batteries to Ukraine.
“continue to engage all the parties that are involved in finding an outcome to this conflict.”
Marco Rubio · said 2025-07-10 · reported 2025-07-10
Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed US commitment to diplomatic engagement regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
“new and different approach.”
Marco Rubio · said 2025-07-10 · reported 2025-07-10
Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Russia's proposals after meeting with Sergey Lavrov.
“When I hear in the news that perhaps the United States or the world might be distracted by events in other parts of the planet, I would say distraction is impossible,”
Marco Rubio · said 2025-07-10 · reported 2025-07-10
Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected the idea that the US is distracted from the Indo-Pacific region.
“It is our view, our strong view, and our reality, that this century and the next, the story of next 50 years, will largely be written here in this region, in this part of the world.”
Marco Rubio · said 2025-07-10 · reported 2025-07-10
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the long-term importance of the Indo-Pacific region.
“No policy decision was made. In essence, no one ever said we’re not sending weapons to Ukraine. That’s been appropriated by Congress, and that’s continued, and that continues to this very day,”
Marco Rubio · said 2025-07-10 · reported 2025-07-10
Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that US weapons aid to Ukraine had not been canceled by policy.
“to continue life-saving treatment.”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2025-07-10
Rubio issued a waiver to allow certain PEPFAR treatments to continue despite aid suspensions.
“shared some ideas and comments, which I’ll take back to Washington as early as this evening in terms of calls.”
Marco Rubio · said 2025-07-10 · reported 2025-07-10
Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to reporters after meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Malaysia.
“I echoed what the president said of both disappointment and frustration at the lack of progress in peace talks or in a path forward,”
Marco Rubio · said 2025-07-10 · reported 2025-07-10
Secretary of State Marco Rubio described his discussion with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to reporters.
“Albanese’s campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel will no longer be tolerated,”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2025-07-10
Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on social media about the U.S. sanctions against Francesca Albanese.
“It was a pause pending review on a handful of specific type munitions that, frankly, is something that is logical that you would do, especially after an extended engagement that we saw, both in defense of Israel and in defense of our own bases,”
Marco Rubio · said 2025-07-10 · reported 2025-07-10
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the decision to review US munitions stockpiles.
“We understand that these things take time and patience, but obviously we’re also frustrated that more progress has not been made, and hopefully we, based on today, and in the days to come, we’ll have more clarity about what exactly the Russian position and priorities are in this regard, and can begin to make some progress,”
Marco Rubio · said 2025-07-10 · reported 2025-07-10
Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the slow progress in peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
“But when you’re doing a review, there’s some period of time in which during that review, it’s possible that some shipping is slowed down, not stopped, but because it’s being reviewed.”
Marco Rubio · said 2025-07-10 · reported 2025-07-10
Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained how reviews can temporarily slow down weapons shipments.
“We will always stand by our partners in their right to self-defense.”
Marco Rubio · said date not stated · reported 2025-07-10
Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated support for partners in a social media post.