President Donald Trump took a playful jab at Secretary of State Marco Rubio even as he praised his top diplomat for helping to secure the historic deal — between Israel and the Iran-backed terror group Hamas — under which all remaining living hostages were finally freed on Monday.
Trump referenced the contentious 2016 Republican primary — during which he’d clashed with Rubio and a number of others he now counts among his allies and friends — and joked, “Who the hell thought this was gonna happen, Marco?”
WATCH:
???? WOW! In an incredible moment, President Trump declares “Marco Rubio will go down as the greatest Secretary of State in the HISTORY of the United States.”
“I believe that. And he and I, we REALLY fought it out [in 2016]! You remember. He was tough! He was NASTY! Who the hell… pic.twitter.com/ZuJ1NXzfOM
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 13, 2025
Trump, speaking before the Knesset in Israel following the release of the hostages, mentioned Rubio by name to thunderous applause.
“And I have a prediction,” he said as the applause died down. “Marco will go down, I mean this, as the greatest Secretary of State in the history of the United States. I believe that. I believe that.”
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Trump went on to recall the 2016 primary, adding, “And he and I, we really fought it out [in 2016]! You remember. He was tough! He was nasty! Who the hell thought this was gonna happen, Marco?”
“Now I’m saying he’s gonna go down as the greatest! He WILL. He was always smart, and sharp, and people respected him,” Trump concluded.
Hours later, at a Gaza Summit held in Egypt, Rubio addressed other world leaders and diplomats: “This is clearly — in my mind and I think in the mind of everyone in this room — probably one of the most important days for world peace in 50 years, and that’s not an exaggeration.”
.@SecRubio: “This is clearly — in my mind and I think in the mind of everyone in this room — probably one of the most important days for world peace in 50 years, and that’s not an exaggeration.” pic.twitter.com/0IS6tYyT4m
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 13, 2025