By Charles Switzer
8:31am PST, Mar 1, 2025
Kaitlan Collins Challenges Rubio on Putin's Reputation
During a Friday, February 28, interview on CNN,
Kaitlan Collins confronted Secretary of State
Marco Rubio about his previous characterization of Russian President
Vladimir Putin. Rubio had previously called Putin a "butcher" and a "war criminal," yet in this interview, he defended the
Trump administration's approach of neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Collins pointed out the contradiction, pressing Rubio on whether he still believed Putin was a war criminal. Instead of reaffirming his past statements, Rubio dodged, emphasizing that his current role required a different approach, saying, "I'm not going to fall into this trap of who's bad and who's evil."
Here are four key takeaways from Collins' pushback on the Secretary's "conflicting" views.
MORE:
Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more fun celebrity & entertainment photo galleries and content
Rubio Defends Trump's Approach to Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks
Rubio defended President Trump's handling of the tense meeting with Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelensky, Vice President
J.D. Vance and other officials earlier that day.
The meeting had ended in a shouting match, but Rubio stood by Trump's negotiation tactics, insisting that his goal was to broker peace rather than assign blame. He stated, "The president, who's the ultimate dealmaker, knows you don't get people to the negotiating table when you're calling them names and you're accusing them of things."
The Secretary's remarks seemed to suggest that the administration views diplomacy with Russia as requiring careful language rather than outright condemnation of Putin.
Collins Presses Rubio on His Own Words
Collins pushed back against Rubio's reluctance to label Putin as a war criminal during their interview. She reminded him that he had used those exact terms in the past and asked why he was now softening his rhetoric.
Rubio's response was pragmatic: he argued that his duty as Secretary of State, long considered the premiere Cabinet position, was to focus on ending the war, not engaging in inflammatory rhetoric. "At this moment, as Secretary of State, my job working for the president is to deliver peace," he said.
The nation's top diplomat emphasized that diplomacy, not confrontation, was the State Department's responsibility.
Social Media Reactions to Rubio's Shift in Tone
Rubio's refusal to reaffirm his past criticism of Putin sparked a firestorm on social media. Journalist Aaron Rupar posted, "Rubio once called Putin a butcher. Now, as Trump's Secretary of State, he won't even say if Putin is evil. What a shift."
Political analyst Tom Nichols added, "Rubio now believes speaking with moral clarity is an obstacle to diplomacy. What happened to the guy who used to be a foreign policy hawk?"
On the other side, MAGA-aligned commentators praised Rubio's stance, with conservative influencer Brigitte Gabriel tweeting, "Marco Rubio is doing what a real secretary of state should do: working to bring peace, not pushing neocon war narratives."
Rubio's Remarks Highlight Trump's Foreign Policy Strategy
Rubio's comments reflect a broader shift in Trump's foreign policy approach, which prioritizes negotiation over confrontation with adversarial leaders like Putin. Trump has long advocated for diplomacy through personal relationships, believing he can persuade
strongmen leaders through direct engagement rather than public condemnation.
Rubio's willingness to adjust his stance aligns with this doctrine, signaling that under Trump, the U.S. may take a less aggressive approach toward Russia than in previous administrations. Whether this strategy will lead to meaningful peace negotiations remains to be seen, but the shift in tone has certainly generated heated debate among foreign policy experts and political analysts like Collins.
