Trump Jokes About Marco Rubio While Celebrating Gaza Ceasefire

JERUSALEM, Israel — Donald Trump took a moment to revive his old rivalry with Marco Rubio during a speech acknowledging the Gaza ceasefire on Monday.

Speaking to a crowd in Israel, Trump humorously recognized Rubio for his part in brokering the ceasefire, saying, “We had some unbelievably good people working on this, then you’re going to add a man named Marco Rubio, who is also here.” He added, “I have a prediction that Marco will go down, I mean this, as the greatest Secretary of State in the history of the United States.” The former president’s remarks follow their contentious primary battles in 2016, where Rubio famously criticized Trump as a “con artist” and an “embarrassment” to the Republican Party.

In praise for Rubio’s leadership, Trump noted, “He was tough. He was nasty. Who the hell thought this would ever happen, right Mark?” This unexpected praise comes as Trump attempts to solidify a path for global peace following the violent conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Rubio, present in the audience, was met with a mix of laughter and applause. Trump continued, “He was always smart and sharp and people respect him. I saw it a long time ago and he’s turned out to be even better.” This event marked a notable moment in their political evolution from fierce competitors to allies in a critical diplomatic effort.