Mar 09 2025 2 mins
In recent days, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been at the center of several significant developments, both domestically and internationally.
Domestically, Rubio was involved in a heated argument with Elon Musk during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. The dispute, reported by *The New York Times*, arose from Musk's role in dismantling the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), an agency that Rubio believed should have been under his control. Musk accused Rubio of not firing State Department workers despite mandates from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new entity established to reduce federal spending. Rubio countered by pointing out that 1,500 State Department employees had taken early buyouts, which he argued should be counted as workforce reductions. The exchange became increasingly tense, with Musk suggesting Rubio was only "good on TV" and Rubio sarcastically questioning whether he should rehire the employees just to fire them again to satisfy DOGE's requirements.
President Donald Trump, who had been silently observing the argument, eventually intervened to defend Rubio, stating that Rubio was doing a "great job" and had a lot to deal with. Trump also reduced some of Musk's power by clarifying that only Cabinet members would be in charge of firings, while Musk's team would only provide advice[1][2].
On the international front, Rubio is set to embark on a critical diplomatic mission. He will travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for U.S.-Ukraine talks aimed at brokering a swift end to the Russia-Ukraine war. Rubio will meet with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and other Ukrainian officials, as well as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to discuss ways to advance shared interests in the region and strengthen the U.S.-Saudi relationship. The talks are part of a broader effort to secure a sustainable peace, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also visiting Saudi Arabia for these discussions[5].
Following his visit to Saudi Arabia, Rubio will attend the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers' meeting in Charlevoix, Canada, from March 12 to 14. This meeting is expected to focus on reaffirming the G7's commitment to helping achieve a durable peace in Ukraine and developing robust security guarantees for the country. The G7 foreign ministers have emphasized the need for additional sanctions against Russia if it does not engage in good-faith efforts to end the war[5].
Rubio's recent activities highlight his active role in both domestic policy disputes and international diplomacy, reflecting the multifaceted challenges he faces as Secretary of State under the Trump administration.
Domestically, Rubio was involved in a heated argument with Elon Musk during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. The dispute, reported by *The New York Times*, arose from Musk's role in dismantling the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), an agency that Rubio believed should have been under his control. Musk accused Rubio of not firing State Department workers despite mandates from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new entity established to reduce federal spending. Rubio countered by pointing out that 1,500 State Department employees had taken early buyouts, which he argued should be counted as workforce reductions. The exchange became increasingly tense, with Musk suggesting Rubio was only "good on TV" and Rubio sarcastically questioning whether he should rehire the employees just to fire them again to satisfy DOGE's requirements.
President Donald Trump, who had been silently observing the argument, eventually intervened to defend Rubio, stating that Rubio was doing a "great job" and had a lot to deal with. Trump also reduced some of Musk's power by clarifying that only Cabinet members would be in charge of firings, while Musk's team would only provide advice[1][2].
On the international front, Rubio is set to embark on a critical diplomatic mission. He will travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for U.S.-Ukraine talks aimed at brokering a swift end to the Russia-Ukraine war. Rubio will meet with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and other Ukrainian officials, as well as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to discuss ways to advance shared interests in the region and strengthen the U.S.-Saudi relationship. The talks are part of a broader effort to secure a sustainable peace, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also visiting Saudi Arabia for these discussions[5].
Following his visit to Saudi Arabia, Rubio will attend the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers' meeting in Charlevoix, Canada, from March 12 to 14. This meeting is expected to focus on reaffirming the G7's commitment to helping achieve a durable peace in Ukraine and developing robust security guarantees for the country. The G7 foreign ministers have emphasized the need for additional sanctions against Russia if it does not engage in good-faith efforts to end the war[5].
Rubio's recent activities highlight his active role in both domestic policy disputes and international diplomacy, reflecting the multifaceted challenges he faces as Secretary of State under the Trump administration.