Rubio acknowledges Americans' economic struggles after GOP midterm losses

WASHINGTON, DC: Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, November 13, acknowledged that Americans were facing economic difficulties in a speech to the conservative Federalist Society in Washington, DC, following significant Republican losses in the midterm elections. 

Rubio said the health of the economy should be assessed by whether households could afford essential goods and services rather than by stock market performance. The secretary of state also defended President Donald Trump’s policies on Iran, immigration and international affairs.

Rubio acknowledges economic struggles and says affordability matters more than stock market

Addressing fellow conservatives at the Federalist Society's National Lawyers Convention, Rubio said the administration and Republican leaders must recognize the financial pressures facing Americans. He directly addressed the difference between strong stock market performance and the everyday economic conditions experienced by households.

"I think we have to recognize that people are struggling. There's no doubt about it," Rubio said. "The health of our economy has nothing to do with the stock market. The health of their economy is whether they have enough money to be able to afford the things they need."

Trump has frequently pointed to stock market performance as evidence of economic strength. However, concerns over the cost of living featured prominently in the midterm elections, with voters blaming the administration for higher prices, tariffs and the economic consequences of the war in Iran. The results gave Democrats significant gains in Congress.

Rubio, however, also defended the decision to wage war against Iran, arguing that the conflict was necessary to prevent the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear weapons. He acknowledged that the fighting had contributed to higher gasoline prices and other costs affecting Americans.

"It's not easy to address these things because it's not popular to address them," Rubio said. "It's difficult. And oftentimes it inflicts, you know, pain, economic pain and otherwise. So we recognize that."

Rubio responds to GOP midterm losses and criticizes international law and courts

Rubio also addressed the Republican Party's election setbacks, suggesting that political success should not be measured exclusively through victories at the ballot box. He joked about the results while speaking to lawyers and law students gathered at the Mayflower Hotel, saying that “on election night there was a congressman that said we all needed to lawyer up, so here we are."

The remark referred to Democratic Rep Robert Garcia, who made the comment in a post on X following the election. Rubio argued that elections determine who holds office but do not independently shape the country's institutions, beliefs or political ideas.

He said the United States had experienced setbacks during the American Revolution and urged Republicans not to regard one electoral defeat as the end of their political efforts.

"There will be more victories, and there will be more defeats. There will be more triumphs, and there will be more disappointments. This is the nature of all undertakings of this weight and of this magnitude. There are no great men or great causes in the pages of history that did not suffer the same," he said.

Rubio also criticized international organizations and courts, accusing them of using international law to restrict American policy decisions. He referred to the approach as "the weaponization of international law" and targeted the United Nations, the International Criminal Court and what he described as the global elite.