{"id":2598909,"date":"2026-05-05T11:10:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T15:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/marco-rubio-ends-his-media-drought-in-the-highest-profile-way-possible\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T11:11:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T15:11:15","slug":"marco-rubio-ends-his-media-drought-in-the-highest-profile-way-possible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/marco-rubio-ends-his-media-drought-in-the-highest-profile-way-possible\/","title":{"rendered":"Marco Rubio ends his media drought in the highest-profile way possible"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmarco-rubio-ends-his-media-drought-in-the-highest-profile-way-possible%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2598909&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Rubio has largely stayed off the spotlight since February and March, when he appeared frequently on TV and in press availabilities as a rising figure in the management. The piece argues that his near disappearance during April is tied to shifting priorities-especially the stalled Iran war and Republican focus on domestic issues ahead of midterms-along with the strategic need not to overshadow the president.<\/p>\n<p>It notes that Rubio gave only one scheduled TV interview in april, while <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >recent earlier periods included multiple major interviews<\/a> and several \u201cremarks to the press.\u201d State Department officials characterize any idea that he\u2019s avoiding the media as based on a \u201cfake premise,\u201d pointing instead to on-record comments and scheduled briefings.<\/p>\n<p>The article frames Rubio\u2019s return to the cameras in today\u2019s White House briefing-while focusing on press questions-as a high-impact moment, especially given that Vice President JD Vance is also traveling to early nominating-state Iowa. It suggests the timing is not accidental and plays into the 2028 Republican nomination race dynamics. The newsletter also includes unrelated sections covering \u201cmedia bulldog\u201d awards for conservative media figures, Graham\u2019s updated view on Kharg Island, and links to other political and book coverage.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p><strong><em>Welcome to Tuesday\u2019s <\/em>Washington Secrets<em>. Today, we look at Marco Rubio\u2019s quiet April, when he largely avoided journalists. All that changes Tuesday when he appears in the White House. Could it be a coincidence that he briefs the media on the same day that his chief rival for the 2028 GOP nomination is hitting the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nevada-to-hold-first-presidential-primary-of-2024-election-cycle\/\" title=\"Nevada To Hold First ...ial Primary Of 2024 Election Cycle\">early nominating state<\/a> of Iowa?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When the Secretary of State takes the lectern in the White House briefing room as <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4455758\/karoline-leavitt-maternity-leave-replacement\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4455758\/karoline-leavitt-maternity-leave-replacement\/\">maternity cover for Karoline Leavitt<\/a>, the assembled press corps could be forgiven for asking: Where have you been?<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4553496\/pat-buchanan-lifetime-bulldog-award-media-watchdog\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Pat Buchanan is honored with lifetime \u2018Bulldog\u2019 award by media watchdog<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4553280\/ice-funding-vote-next-challenge-swing-seat-republicans\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Why an ICE funding vote could be the next challenge for swing seat Republicans<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4551105\/white-house-report-card-kimmel-joke-bombs-royal-glitter-trump\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>White House report card: Kimmel joke bombs while royal glitter rubs off on Trump<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marco-rubio\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marco-rubio\/\">Marco Rubio<\/a>, long the rising star of this administration, known for standing at the president\u2019s elbow to take tricky questions about Venezuela, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\">Iran<\/a>, Cuba, or Ukraine, all but disappeared from the airwaves last month.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>In February and March, the dual-hatted foreign policy chief was averaging two media appearances a week. A slew of profile pieces suggested his deft touch and assured TV performances meant he had moved ahead in the race for the 2028 Republican Party nomination. It felt like he was everywhere.<\/p>\n<p>Since then, the war in Iran has stalled, and Republicans have been anxious to shift the conversation to tax cuts and domestic wins ahead of the midterm elections.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, it is not easy being Secretary of State and National Security Adviser for such an unpredictable boss who can change direction without warning.<\/p>\n<p>Nor do you want to take too much of the limelight. That\u2019s a surefire way to lose favor. <\/p>\n<p>A Washington Secrets analysis of Rubio\u2019s media appearances shows just how steep the drop-off was. He sat for just one TV interview during the entire month of April. The appearance with Trey Yingst of Fox News had been long-scheduled, way before Rubio took a step back.<\/p>\n<p>That solitary appearance marked a stark change from the preceding two months.<\/p>\n<p>Rubio sat for three interviews in the last two days of March alone: with Sean Hannity of Fox News, George Stephanopoulos for ABC\u2019s <em>Good Morning America<\/em>, and Hashem Ahelbarra of <em>Al Jazeera<\/em>. He also delivered what the State Department calls \u201cremarks to the press\u201d on four occasions.<\/p>\n<p>Sample question on Iran, asked on the apron of a French airport: \u201cHow seriously is the United States considering deploying ground troops?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>February was similar. He sat for an interview with Bloomberg, and the State Department website lists three \u201cpress availabilities\u201d and two \u201cremarks to press.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sample question: \u201cOn the subject of Iran and the negotiations tomorrow, and your own plans in terms of the Middle East and Israel, what should we be looking for next?\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Tommy Piggott, spokesman for the State Department, punched back at any suggestion that Rubio had been keeping a lower profile, saying it was a \u201cfake premise.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust look at his many on-record comments and gaggles with the press,\u201d he told <em>Secrets<\/em>. \u201cSecretary Rubio will be briefing the press from the White House briefing room at 3pm.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Longtime members of the State Department\u2019s press corps have welcomed his gaggles, even if they wearily point out that he has given only one press conference.\u00a0That means his appearance in the White House briefing room equals the number of times he has held a press conference at the State Department.<\/p>\n<p>The occasion also offers a vivid split-screen view of the 2028 nomination race. Rubio will be addressing reporters, while <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jd-vance\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"7658\">Vice President JD Vance<\/a> will be visiting the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-campaign-plows-forward-amid-fundraising-questions\/\" title=\"DeSantis campaign pushes ... despite fundraising concerns.\">key early nominating state<\/a> of Iowa.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4551592\/marco-rubios-2028-momentum-is-getting-impossible-to-ignore\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4551592\/marco-rubios-2028-momentum-is-getting-impossible-to-ignore\/\"><strong>MARCO RUBIO\u2019S 2028 MOMENTUM IS GETTING IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Coincidence? <em>Secrets<\/em> thinks not, when the president is a man who reached global fame with a TV show premised on the idea of finding talent to follow in his footsteps.<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, a former administration official said it was no surprise that Rubio had stepped back from the cameras in recent weeks.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe doesn\u2019t want to get ahead of the president. When things are so fluid and changing by the hour, and when the president is the one leading messaging on a daily basis, it makes sense,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt also means that when he does talk to the press it has a bigger impact.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It didn\u2019t stop Rubio from getting good press, either. A video of the Secretary of State manning the DJ booth at a Florida wedding <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/bennyjohnson\/status\/2051030959999373404\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/bennyjohnson\/status\/2051030959999373404\">went viral over the weekend<\/a>, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-an-ahole-emma-stone-defends-taylor-swift-at-golden-globes\/\" title=\"Emma Stone defends Taylor Swift at Golden Globes, calling the person in question an a**hole\">delighted social media users<\/a> saying it showed he was just like anyone else at a party.<\/p>\n<p>But today, he goes in front of the cameras in one of the biggest impact situations possible.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-these-are-the-2026-media-bulldogs\">These are the 2026 media bulldogs<\/h2>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pat-buchanan\/\">Pat Buchanan<\/a>, who shaped the debate on the Right from Richard Nixon to Donald Trump, is being recognized with a Bulldog Award for lifetime achievement from the Media Research Center.<\/p>\n<p>Buchanan is one of eight people or organizations who will be honored in the awards, which are designed to recognize conservative voices that the organizers say are overlooked by liberal media prizes. <\/p>\n<p>They were announced on Tuesday, a day after the Pulitzer Prizes, and were shared early with <em>Washington Secrets<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>The winners are:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lifetime Achievement: Patrick J. Buchanan<\/li>\n<li>Outstanding Podcast: Morning Wire<\/li>\n<li>Outstanding Social Media Personality: Stephen L. Miller<\/li>\n<li>Outstanding Columnist: Douglas Murray<\/li>\n<li>Outstanding Investigative Journalist: Nick Minock<\/li>\n<li>Outstanding Reporter: Jennie Taer<\/li>\n<li>Outstanding Radio Talk Show Host: Dana Loesch<\/li>\n<li>Outstanding Achievement Behind Enemy Lines: Shermichael Singleton<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can read an extra dose of <em>Secrets<\/em> with all the details <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4553496\/pat-buchanan-lifetime-bulldog-award-media-watchdog\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4553496\/pat-buchanan-lifetime-bulldog-award-media-watchdog\/\">HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-quote-of-the-day\">Quote of the day<\/h2>\n<p>Remember Kharg Island, the Iranian chunk of rock that became target No. 1 in late March as a way for the U.S. to seize control of Tehran\u2019s oil industry? You can forget about it now.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Lindsey Graham has reversed course from his position that the U.S. Marines should be sent in to take it so that the regime would \u201cdie on the vine.\u201d On Monday, he told Sean Hannity:<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>\u201cI\u2019m not a real advocate of taking Kharg Island. I think we oughta tell the Iranians we will destroy it from the air.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lunchtime-reading\">Lunchtime reading<\/h2>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/05\/05\/politics\/indiana-ohio-primaries-preview\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/05\/05\/politics\/indiana-ohio-primaries-preview\"><strong>What to watch in Tuesday\u2019s primaries in Indiana and Ohio<\/strong><\/a>: Today will be a key test of Donald Trump\u2019s hold on his party. Plus, Turning Point USA had made Indiana one of its battlegrounds, warning incumbents they could be ousted if they did not buy into redistricting plans. How real are its threats without the charisma of Charlie Kirk behind it?<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/arts-culture\/books\/the-man-behind-the-cane-review-a-prelude-to-brutality-abb726bc?st=f4ckCd&#038;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/arts-culture\/books\/the-man-behind-the-cane-review-a-prelude-to-brutality-abb726bc?st=f4ckCd&#038;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink\"><strong>\u2018The Man Behind the Cane\u2019 Review: A Prelude to Brutality<\/strong>:<\/a> \u201cOn May 22, 1856, a furious South Carolina congressman named Preston Brooks stalked into the U.S. Senate\u2019s ornate chamber, surprised the seated Sen. Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, and beat him nearly to death with a cane.\u201d Some 30 members of the Senate watched, some aghast, some approvingly. This book explains why\u2026<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>You are reading <\/em>Washington Secrets<em>, a guide to power and politics in D.C. and beyond. It is written by Rob Crilly, who you can reach at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#f083959382958483b087918398999e97849f9e9588919d999e9582de939f9d\"><span class=\"__cf_email__\" data-cfemail=\"cdbea8aebfa8b9be8dbaacbea5a4a3aab9a2a3a8b5aca0a4a3a8bfe3aea2a0\">[email\u00a0protected]<\/span><\/a> with your comments, story tips, and suggestions. If a friend sent you this and you\u2019d like to sign up, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/click1.trk-washingtonexaminer.com\/xprvgynrhhctscghtpnrptnqlrtypjmjlkrlcnpvhgpdcr_jtjrvfbrrsmwbqmnsbmvsv.html?a=Washington+Secrets+Lara+Trump&#038;b=01%2F21%2F2026&#038;c=WEX_Washington+Secrets&#038;d=25812206&#038;e=da31c45955c9411a6c40ecd0e967fa8def1f0fc08362faaa0dee09386ff5c41b\">click here<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to Tuesday\u2019s Washington Secrets: Rubio\u2019s quiet April ends as he briefs the media-on the same day his 2028 GOP rival hits Iowa<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4136,"featured_media":2598910,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26112708727557.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[35865,34360,79132,32603,53973],"class_list":["post-2598909","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-election-campaign","tag-marco-rubio","tag-media-drought","tag-political-news","tag-television-appearance"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26112708727557.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598909","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2598909"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598909\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2598913,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598909\/revisions\/2598913"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2598910"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2598909"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2598909"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2598909"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}