Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly pushed back against ABC anchor Martha Raddatz after she claimed President Trump had “elevated” Russian President Vladimir Putin by hosting him at the Alaska summit. Rubio argued that Putin already holds a position on the world stage and that engaging with him is a matter of practical diplomacy, not prestige.
Raddatz suggested that by greeting Putin and treating him as a peer, Trump had given Moscow undue legitimacy. Rubio dismissed the accusation as unserious. “Putin is already on the world stage,” Rubio said, noting that any effort to resolve the war in Ukraine must include direct engagement with Russia’s leader. “You’re not going to end a war between Russia and Ukraine without dealing with Putin. That’s just common sense. I shouldn’t even have to say it.”
When pressed on what concessions might have been discussed at the summit, Rubio declined to disclose details. He insisted that sensitive diplomacy is best conducted in private, without media speculation or political grandstanding. According to Rubio, public posturing undermines the effectiveness of negotiations and risks prolonging conflict.
The exchange highlights a clear divide between critics in the media who frame Trump’s foreign policy as appeasement, and Trump officials who argue that practical diplomacy is necessary for peace. Rubio’s response underscores a shift from symbolic gestures toward direct engagement, an approach that seeks results rather than optics.
