Morning Joe co-host Joe Scarborough revealed Marco Rubio’s “soul-crushing” moment during Friday’s intense brawl between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Secretary of State Rubio went viral after he was seen sinking into the couch as JD Vance and Trump both reeled into Zelensky, seemingly uncomfortable at the aggressive ordeal.
As the show unpacked the hostile meeting, Scarborough couldn’t help but focus on Rubio’s reaction.
“It was when the question was asked about the suit, it really was, you can see that was a soul-crushing experience for a life-long Russia hawk.”
During the meeting, Zelensky was chastised by conservative journalist–and Marjorie Taylor Greene’s boyfriend–Brian Glenn, who mocked the Ukrainian president’s choice of clothing while speaking to Trump. Zelensky is forgoing the typical suit-and-tie attire until the war is over.
“So many deeply-disturbing things about that meeting, but, you don’t have to take that from me,” Scarborough said. “Just look at Marco Rubio: slouched on the couch.”
Rubio, who at one point supported Ukraine, remained mum during the meeting as Trump and Vance drastically shifted away from the country’s supportive stance on Ukraine.
“We saw Marco Rubio look like he wanted to disappear into the couch itself because, to Joe’s point, he’s someone whose whole career has been someone who has tried to stand up to Russia,” Jonathan Lemire, who sits on Morning Joe’s panel, said. “In that moment, he had to go along with the president.”
Despite the extremely public battle between the leaders in the Oval Office that stunned viewers, Rubio stood by Trump’s side after Zelensky was reportedly kicked out of the White House.
“Thank you @POTUS for standing up for America in a way that no President has ever had the courage to do before," he posted on X. “Thank you for putting America First. America is with you!”
Since Friday, Trump has doubled-down on his Zelensky attacks, even going as far as saying that the Ukrainian president “doesn’t want there to be Peace."
