Marco Rubio jokes ‘this is chaos’ as he fills in for Karoline Leavitt at White House briefing

WASHINGTON, DC: Secretary of State Marco Rubio once again stepped behind the White House briefing room podium on Tuesday, May 5, filling in for Karoline Leavitt as she begins maternity leave.

As he managed a flood of questions from journalists in the room, Rubio exclaimed, "This is chaos, guys!" before diving into serious updates on "Project Freedom" and regional security.

Marco Rubio fills in for Karoline Leavitt

The high-stakes briefing took a lighthearted turn as Marco Rubio struggled to navigate the sea of journalists in the room. Rubio entered with a touch of wit, acknowledging the unusual sight of a Secretary of State acting as a press spokesperson.

"I’ll be filling in for Karoline today, obviously," he noted, joking that he didn't recognize all the faces among the "too many damn outlets" present.

While attempting to manage the room’s energy, the seasoned diplomat found himself in a humorous back-and-forth while trying to identify a specific reporter in a crowded row.

Pointing toward the seats, he said, "In the black. You in the black! Yes ma'am. Where, no, you, no, you BOTH are wearing black. No, you don't have black, you have blue on! I'm color blind, but I know blue and black. Right there. Yes ma'am. NO, you, the first one I called on!"

Marco Rubio warns Iran could spike gas prices

Serving as both Secretary of State and National Security Adviser, Rubio handled an expansive briefing that reinforced the administration's America First policy.

Defending the US position against Iran, he asserted, “As President Trump has said, and the facts clearly bear out, the United States of America holds all the cards”.

When asked about the domestic impact of foreign conflicts, specifically rising gas prices, he warned about the risks of a nuclear-armed adversary, saying, “If Iran had a nuclear weapon and they decided to close the strait and make our gas prices like $9 a gallon or $8 a gallon, we wouldn’t be able to do anything about it”.

Marco Rubio announces new phase in Iran conflict

During the briefing, Rubio declared the offensive war with Iran over, announcing a pivot toward a “new phase” aimed at freeing ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.

He clarified the rules of engagement for this transition, stating, “This is not an offensive operation. This is a defensive operation. And what that means is very simple, there’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first”.

Beyond military strategy, Rubio spoke about his broader vision for the country as it approaches its 250th anniversary, noting his hope that the US continues “to be the place where anyone from anywhere can achieve anything”.

He further stated, "I think we have a lot to learn and be proud of in our history. It is one of perpetual and continuous improvement where each generation has done its part to bring us closer to fulfilling the vision that the founders of this country had upon its founding.”