While in Vatican City visiting Pope Leo, who has been advocating for peace, President Trump’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked about the latest U.S. military action against Iran, which took place during the alleged “ceasefire.”
Rubio defended the action (an action he said is “separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury”) and said: “What you saw yesterday was U.S. destroyers moving through international waters, being fired upon by the Iranians. And the US responded defensively to protect itself. That’s what you saw.”
He added, “If you fire a drone or missile at our destroyer, what are we supposed to do, let it hit it? We have to respond to it. We have to knock down a missile and we have to knock out whatever it is that launched that missile. The alternative is to let it sink one of our ships. That’s crazy. So of course we responded to it.”
“Only stupid countries don’t shoot back when you’re shot at. And we’re not a stupid country.”
Rubio doubles down on U.S. military action defending itself against Iranian strikes on American vessels:
“What you saw yesterday was U.S. destroyers moving through international… pic.twitter.com/tcGQpXRJso
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 8, 2026
When asked specifically about the action occurring during a “ceasefire” — a word that critics say no longer applies to the scenario — Rubio used the word “stupid” four times in his response.
Rubio said, “If you fire at a U.S. navy ship, what are we supposed to do, say ‘oh, there’s a ceasefire, we’re not going to shoot down your drone,’ that’s a stupid question. That’s a stupid position to take. Of course we fire back at them. They were shooting at us. That’s what I would expect to do. Only stupid countries don’t shoot back when you’re shot at. And we’re not a stupid country.” Rubio did not acknowledge the discrepancy between a ceasefire and the two countries firing at one another.