Marco Rubio was caught in a surprising moment, discreetly directing former President Donald Trump, 79, on what to post on Truth Social. But here's where it gets controversial—why is the Secretary of State micromanaging the former president's social media narrative? During a White House roundtable on Wednesday with conservative influencers, Rubio slipped Trump a hastily written note. While Attorney General Pam Bondi was speaking, Rubio handed the note over behind her back, then signaled Trump to come closer before whispering to him as Bondi wrapped up her remarks.
The note, captured by an AP photographer, read, “We need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first.” Almost immediately after receiving these instructions, Trump addressed the press, saying, “OK, I was just given a note by the secretary of state saying, ‘we’re very close to a deal in the Middle East’ and they’re gonna need me pretty quickly.” He answered a few more questions but quickly excused himself, telling the right-wing influencers, “I have to go now to solve some problems in the Middle East,” leaving Rubio to answer remaining questions on his behalf.
Shortly afterward, Trump posted on his Truth Social account: “I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly!”
He continued with a message of hope: “This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”
And this is the part most people miss: the note from Rubio shows how tightly controlled the messaging around this sensitive Middle East peace initiative is—even down to instructing Trump on when and how to announce it on social media. What do you think about a top official essentially coaching a former president on his public statements? Is this collaboration a smart move for diplomacy, or does it raise questions about influence and control? The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for their response.
Feel free to share your thoughts—do you agree with Rubio’s approach, or do you see it as overstepping? This episode definitely sparks debate on the intersection of politics, media, and power.
