Marco Rubio told trey yingst on Monday that the White House shooting incident led to the postponement of the White House Correspondents' Dinner and shifted attention toward the investigation. He praised Donald Trump’s response and called the episode an unfortunate situation.
Trump's response
Rubio said Trump’s decision to return to the White House, release video and then address the American people in a press conference showed leadership and helped calm the country. He added, "That’s kind of the world we live in right now."
The secretary of state linked the postponement to security considerations and the logistics of clearing and rescreening attendees. He said the dinner was delayed after the incident.
Iran and the Strait of Hormuz
Rubio also said the ceasefire with Iran remains in place, while warning that the nuclear issue is the central reason for the current crisis. He described Iran as run by radical Shia clerics and said its leadership is deeply fractured internally.
He said U.S. negotiators must deal with Iranians who then have to negotiate with other Iranians before they can reach agreement. Rubio added that the United States would reject any arrangement that gives Tehran control over passage through the Strait of Hormuz, which he called an international waterway.
Hezbollah and regional risk
Rubio said allowing Iran to regulate access to the strait or impose fees would set a global precedent. He also said Iran seeks to expand its regional influence through Hezbollah, Hamas and Iraqi militias, and warned that a nuclear-armed Iran would significantly increase the regional threat.
He said Israel’s military activity in Lebanon is focused on Hezbollah rather than the Lebanese people. The interview left Rubio’s warning at the center of the story: a shooting at the White House had already changed the day’s schedule, while his broader message tied that disruption to a wider security picture in the region.
