Good morning. With poll numbers sinking, gas prices rising, and Iran strategy evolving, President Trump on Tuesday was in need of an upbeat messenger to reset the narrative.
Enter Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
During a rollicking, smile-filled, 50-minute afternoon press conference, Rubio created umpteen viral moments, all while packaging the Trump administration’s foreign policy into bite-size portions that, quite frankly, have eluded others.
He walked a fine line of speaking with authority, praising Trump, and dropping a bunch of pop-culture references that could resonate far and wide on social media and beyond.
On Iran, he said “they should check themselves before they wreck themselves” (reference to a 1992 Ice Cube song). He also called Iran “insane in the membrane” (reference to a 1993 Cypress Hill song). Hey, the secretary likes 1990s rap. He’s one of us.
This came after video emerged over the weekend of Rubio standing in as a DJ at a Florida wedding, seeming to have the time of his life. And earlier on Tuesday, the U.S. military posted a photo of Rubio standing in front of a map of Cuba, which could be seen as a menacing image in Havana.
Sure, in the background of all this is the looming Rubio vs. Vice President JD Vance showdown for the 2028 GOP presidential nomination. But in the foreground is Rubio appearing to enjoy himself, stepping into his own and acting as a quite effective messenger and operator in Trump World (no small task). Long gone are the days of Trump calling the secretary “Liddle Marco” or the viral moment of Rubio reaching for a water while struggling to deliver the Republican message following then-President Barack Obama’s 2013 State of the Union.
What’s next? Rubio is meeting Pope Leo XIV later this week. His diplomacy skills will be tested once again.
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People and Policies I’m Watching
Iran war: Follow the latest developments as China urges Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and calls for talks on ending the war, after Tehran touted the U.S. suspension of an operation to guide commercial ships through the strait as an American climb down.
Congress: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is to testify on his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Ken Griffin: The billionaire again attacked New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, arguing that Miami, rather than Manhattan, is the place for growth.
Trump’s Wednesday: The president is to participate in a policy meeting at 11 a.m. before he and the first lady are to join a military Mother’s Day event at 12:30 p.m. After he receives his intelligence briefing at 3:30 p.m., he and the first lady are to participate in a Trust for the National Mall reception at 5:30 p.m. in the Rose Garden.
What I’m Following
Trump’s grip on the Republican base is still firm, Indiana’s primary results showed. He scored decisive victories in several state Senate primaries after pushing to oust seven GOP lawmakers who had rebuffed his demands to redraw the state’s congressional maps. In Ohio, Trump stalwart Vivek Ramaswamy advanced in the Republican primary for governor, while former Sen. Sherrod Brown advanced in the Democratic race for the U.S. Senate.
Trump accused the pope of endangering Catholics over his Iran war stance. He renewed his criticism of Pope Leo, saying the pope was comfortable with a nuclear-armed Iran, although Leo has never said it would be acceptable for Iran to have a nuclear program and has repeatedly called for a world free of all nuclear weapons. Trump’s comments came amid one of worst rifts between Washington and the Vatican and ahead of Marco Rubio’s fence-mending visit to Rome on Thursday.
The FDA head was pressured to reverse course on flavored vapes. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary will allow new vape flavors on the market for the first time in years. Trump told him to stop blocking a White House preference for approving menthol, mango and blueberry vape flavors from Los Angeles manufacturer Glas.
What Else Is Happening
Persian Gulf states fear that an emboldened Iran is taking advantage of a hesitant U.S., while U.S. sanctions can’t stop China supplying Iranian and Russian drone factories.High gas prices are wreaking havoc on America’s supercommuters.Tech firms have agreed to share early versions of AI programs with the government, while AI forces CEOs to make a choice between laying off workers or making them do more.White House Correspondents’ Dinner suspect Cole Allen, already charged with attempting to assassinate Trump, was charged with assaulting a Secret Service officer.
What I’m Reading
Meet the Free Speech Warrior of the Trump Administration. (The Free Press)Trump Says Venezuelans Are ‘Really Happy,’ but Poll Shows Fast-Growing Discontent. (Miami Herald)Iowa Gives Data on Millions of Voters to Trump Administration. (Des Moines Register)
About Me
I’m Damian Paletta, The Wall Street Journal’s Washington coverage chief. I’ve covered Washington for 22 years as a reporter and editor. I’ve covered the White House, Congress, national security, the federal budget, economics and multiple market meltdowns.WSJ Politics brings you an expert guide to what’s driving D.C., every weekday morning. Send your feedback to politics@wsj.com (if you’re reading this in your inbox, you can just hit reply). This edition was curated and edited in collaboration with Alistair Dawber and Michael Connolly. Got a tip for us? Here’s how to submit.
