Secretary of State Marco Rubio has strongly criticized those who backed President Donald Trump’s conspiracy claims involving Russia in the 2016 election.
On the “Brian Kilmeade Show,” Rubio suggested that these widely circulated accusations were part of a broader misinformation initiative funded by political adversaries. “This document was campaign misinformation. It was paid for by a political campaign,” he asserted. “It was fabricated, leading to significant outrage—it was a lie that misled the American public.”
Rubio’s comments followed the release of a document by National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, alleging that the Obama administration had politicized intelligence during the election.
Rubio, who used to chair the Senate Intelligence Committee, mentioned that his own investigation found “zero, zip, nada evidence” of any coordination between Trump’s campaign and Russia. Despite this, some Democrats claimed he was attempting to alter his committee’s findings regarding “Russian interference.” “We can affirmatively say that the committee discovered no proof that Donald Trump or his campaign conspired with the Russian government in the 2016 election,” Rubio stated in a 2020 investigation summary. “However, what troubled us was the evidence of Russian interference that remained unanswered.”
He pushed back against Democratic lawmakers linking him to Trump-Russia conspiracy claims, denouncing them as “fraud” and accusing them of conflating Russia’s actions with questions about Trump’s involvement.
Gabbard’s recent documents have been brought to the attention of the Department of Justice and the FBI to assess potential criminal implications. Nonetheless, many Democrats have expressed disappointment regarding her allegations. Senator Mark Warner, who serves as vice-chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, voiced concerns via social media.
President Trump referred to his predecessor as the “mastermind” behind the Russian investigation. In response, a spokesperson for former President Obama dismissed these claims as “strange” and “a feeble attempt at distraction.”
Rubio also criticized the media for suggesting his recent comments indicated a lack of interest. “You’ve had some of the highest-level officials in our intelligence agencies taking in that fabricated, absurd documentation and using it to influence official assessments of what transpired during the campaign,” he noted. “The media seems uninterested, or perhaps finds it tricky to grasp those nuances and realities.”
Regarding Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Rubio said the administration’s patience with President Putin is wearing thin. “What frustrates the president most is that he makes these significant decisions, then turns on the news to see another city bombed,” he remarked. He added that the U.S. is exploring new avenues for peace talks but cautioned that Trump’s patience is limited.
On Tuesday, Trump set a 10-day ultimatum for Putin to agree to a ceasefire or face heavier sanctions. “As of now, there’s been no indication of a genuine desire from the Russian side to meet that goal,” Rubio said. “But clearly, the president won’t wait indefinitely.”
