Marco Rubio, the newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of State, declined to comment on President Donald Trump’s pardons related to the January 6th Capitol attack. This includes more than 1,500 people, some of whom were convicted of violent crimes tied to the insurrection.
Despite Rubio having strongly condemned the attack back in 2021, he refused to address the issue when asked in several interviews on Tuesday. His response? He’s not focusing on domestic matters anymore because his new job requires him to concentrate on U.S. foreign policy.
During an interview on CBS News, host Gayle King reminded Rubio of a statement he made in February 2021. Back then, he said the images of the Capitol attack “stirred up anger” and made the nation look bad in front of the world. King then asked Rubio how he could reconcile those feelings with Trump’s recent pardons.
Rubio, now Secretary of State, didn’t offer much of an answer. Instead, he pointed out that he’s no longer a U.S. senator. “I work for Donald J. Trump, the new president of the United States,” Rubio said. “My focus now is 100% on foreign policy.”
He made a similar point during an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos. When reminded of his past comments about the attack being a “national embarrassment,” Rubio still didn’t engage on the issue. He stuck to his message: his job now is about foreign policy, not domestic matters. “I’m focused on how we keep this country safe and prosperous,” he said.
Stephanopoulos pushed further, asking if Rubio still felt the same way about the world seeing the U.S. as “falling apart.” Rubio didn’t seem happy with the question. “As a senator, I had opinions on domestic matters,” he replied. “Now, I’m focused on foreign policy.”
The same topic came up during a third interview with NBC News. Host Craig Melvin played a clip from 2021, where Rubio said that Vladimir Putin would be “loving” what happened on January 6 because it made the U.S. look weak. Melvin asked Rubio what message the pardons sent to the world.
But Rubio was quick to shut down the question. He said he wouldn’t get into “domestic political debates” in his new role. “My focus is on foreign policy, and that’s where my attention is,” he stated. When pressed again, Rubio expressed frustration. “I’m not going to talk about domestic politics. If you have questions about foreign policy, I’m happy to answer,” he said.
Rubio’s clear stance? As Secretary of State, he’s all about handling global affairs and staying away from the domestic issues that once dominated his role as a senator.
Watch the videos below:
“My job is to focus on the foreign policy of the United States … and that's what I'll be focusing on and won't be opining on domestic policy.”
Newly-confirmed Sec. of State Marco Rubio on Pres. Trump’s pardons of Jan. 6th rioters. pic.twitter.com/uumgpPRYgV
— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 21, 2025
GAYLE KING: In 2021, even you issued a statement saying the images of J6 stirred up anger in you, 'the nation was embarrassed.' How do you reconcile those feelings with Trump's pardons?
MARCO RUBIO: I used to be a senator, and now I'm about to be sworn in as the secretary of… pic.twitter.com/GmPL0xsmLf
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 21, 2025