Rubio Lays Down a Brutal Red Line for Iran

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been in Italy to speak with the Pope and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Rubio gifted Leo a crystal football engraved with the State Department’s logo, while the pope gave the secretary a pen made from an olive branch, which he noted was “the plant of peace.”

That's an interesting symbolic gift from the Pope: a literal olive branch to the Trump administration?

Rubio answered questions from reporters, including about the military actions against Iran. He made it clear that regardless of the views that the Pope or allies like Italy may have, “The president of the United States is always going to act on what’s in the best interest of the United States.”

SECRETARY RUBIO: The President is always going to do what’s in the best interest of the United States.

I think we can do that and also continue to have a productive and fruitful relationship with the church because it plays an important role in the world as well. pic.twitter.com/lwe9Sa09lE
— Department of State (@StateDept) May 8, 2026

Rubio also addressed some of the frictions with the allies over Iran. He explained that you can't normalize Iran seizing an international waterway, or it has ripple effects. And you can't address it (as some of the allies seem to want to) with just "strongly worded statements."

🚨SECRETARY RUBIO: Every country needs to ask themselves if they are going to normalize a country claiming to control an international waterway.

If the answer is no, then they’d better have something more than strongly worded statements to back it up. pic.twitter.com/ohAb9GMmTX
— Department of State (@StateDept) May 8, 2026

Now, that's gold — ripping the "strongly worded letter" thing we all hate. But that's the allies right now. France sent a ship. But they're not doing anything until it's all over, so what is that worth?

Rubio said he thought the Pope and Meloni had agreed in their discussions that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon.

Then Rubio really rocked this question about whether we should be firing on Iran if there's a ceasefire. We fired back on them after they fired on us on Thursday, and we hit their launchers and shore locations behind the attacks.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Only stupid countries don’t shoot back when you’re shot at. And we’re not a stupid county.

The redline is clear – if Iranian boats threaten Americans, they’re going to get blown up.

🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/hTl1TRLmJL
— Department of State (@StateDept) May 8, 2026

"They were shooting at us. Only stupid countries don’t shoot back when you’re shot at," Rubio replied. "And we’re not a stupid county."

When asked about "red lines," he was equally blunt: "The red line is clear – if they threaten Americans, they’re going to get blown up."

Iran doesn't have a navy left, but they do have some fast boats and drones.

"If I were one of these Iranians on a fast boat and they tell you, your mission is to go after a U.S. destroyer, you're probably not going to survive," Rubio finished.

Can't get any clearer than that.

Marco Rubio's One-Day WH Press Secretary Gig Was Chaotic, Funny, and Surprisingly Brutal

Rubio said there might be an answer from Iran on Friday, and they would evaluate if it was serious .

"Their system is still highly fractured and a bit dysfunctional as well. So, that may be serving as an impediment. I hope it's a serious offer, I really do," Rubio added.

Editor's Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.

Help us report the truth about the Trump administration's decisive actions to keep Americans safe and bring peace to the world. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership.