Discover video-sourced quotes by politicians

Marco Rubio: “The President determined we were not going to get hit first.”

Featuring: Marco Rubio, Republican | Secretary of State, United States | National

WATCH: Rubio defends U.S. attack on Iran, says State Department helping Americans depart region

Published March 3, 2026 | Video Starts at 07:53

I was asked a very specific question. So you guys can misrepresent it, but I was asked a very specific question yesterday. The bottom line is this. We. The President determined we were not going to get hit first. It's that simple, guys. We are not going to put Americans troops in harm's way. If you tell the President of the United States that if we don't go first, we're going to have more people killed and more people injured. (07:53–07:56)

CLAIM

Asserts that the President decided the U.S. would act preemptively to avoid being attacked first.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

Discover more from

Marco Rubio

“9,000 Americans have been able to leave the region since the start of this war.”
WATCH: Rubio defends U.S. attack on Iran, says State Department helping Americans depart region | Uploaded March 3, 2026 | 00:11-00:18
“We have about 1,500 Americans that are requesting assistance with departure.”
WATCH: Rubio defends U.S. attack on Iran, says State Department helping Americans depart region | Uploaded March 3, 2026 | 00:17-00:22
“The airport in Kuwait was hit.”
WATCH: Rubio defends U.S. attack on Iran, says State Department helping Americans depart region | Uploaded March 3, 2026 | 06:33-06:35
“The State Department is now actively implementing our plans to help Americans in the Middle East depart.”
WATCH: Rubio defends U.S. attack on Iran, says State Department helping Americans depart region | Uploaded March 3, 2026 | 00:02-00:11
“The President systematically made a decision to systematically destroy this terroristic capability that they had.”
WATCH: Rubio defends U.S. attack on Iran, says State Department helping Americans depart region | Uploaded March 3, 2026 | 04:52-04:59
“We've complied with the War Powers act even though we believe it's unconstitutional.”
WATCH: Rubio defends U.S. attack on Iran, says State Department helping Americans depart region | Uploaded March 3, 2026 | 05:32-05:36
“We notified Gang of Eight, which was an appropriate mechanism by which to notify Congress.”
WATCH: Rubio defends U.S. attack on Iran, says State Department helping Americans depart region | Uploaded March 3, 2026 | 05:42-05:48
“We sent the notification within 48 hours, the way the law requires.”
WATCH: Rubio defends U.S. attack on Iran, says State Department helping Americans depart region | Uploaded March 3, 2026 | 05:48-05:52
“This threat from Iran, they are hiding behind these missiles and hiding behind these drones.”
WATCH: Rubio defends U.S. attack on Iran, says State Department helping Americans depart region | Uploaded March 3, 2026 | 08:17-08:23
“There was no way in the world that this terroristic regime was going to get nuclear weapons. Not under Donald Trump's watch.”
WATCH: Rubio defends U.S. attack on Iran, says State Department helping Americans depart region | Uploaded March 3, 2026 | 08:27-08:33
“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
WATCH: Rubio defends U.S. attack on Iran, says State Department helping Americans depart region | Uploaded March 3, 2026 | 09:00-09:03
“We are going to destroy their missiles and their missile launchers.”
WATCH: Rubio defends U.S. attack on Iran, says State Department helping Americans depart region | Uploaded March 3, 2026 | 09:08-09:12
“We are going to destroy their navy.”
WATCH: Rubio defends U.S. attack on Iran, says State Department helping Americans depart region | Uploaded March 3, 2026 | 09:16-09:18
“The President had already made a decision to act on the timing.”
WATCH: Rubio defends U.S. attack on Iran, says State Department helping Americans depart region | Uploaded March 3, 2026 | 09:35-09:39
“We will destroy their ability to sponsor terrorism.”
WATCH: Rubio defends U.S. attack on Iran, says State Department helping Americans depart region | Uploaded March 3, 2026 | 09:50-09:53
“The United States made a decision under the President of the United States made a decision.”
WATCH: Rubio defends U.S. attack on Iran, says State Department helping Americans depart region | Uploaded March 3, 2026 | 11:37-11:41
“If we don't hit them now, a year from now, a year and a half from now, no one will be able to touch them.”
WATCH: Rubio defends U.S. attack on Iran, says State Department helping Americans depart region | Uploaded March 3, 2026 | 11:47-11:53