On Feb. 19, U.S. President Donald J. Trump hosted a meeting of the “Board of Peace” in Washington, D.C. The committee is responsible for overseeing the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and promoting post-war reconstruction.
At the meeting, Trump cracked a series of jokes, saying that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and First Lady Melania Trump were “stealing the spotlight.”
According to the Indian Times, Trump, speaking to dozens of world leaders in attendance, said he was so proud of Rubio’s performance that he “almost terminated his employment.”
He said: “You earned honor in Munich. In fact, you performed so well, I almost ended your job. Because they said, why can’t Trump do this?!”
Trump then explained: “I could do it too, just differently.” He continued joking: “But Marco, don’t do better than you are now. Because if you do, you’ll have to leave here.” The remark drew laughter from the audience.
Success
You are now signed up for our newsletter
Success
Check your email to complete sign up
Observers noted that the joke was related to Rubio’s recent diplomatic performance. On Feb. 14, Rubio delivered a speech at the Munich Security Conference, emphasizing Western unity and stating, “Europe will never become irrelevant.” His remarks received international praise.
Melania: another ‘star’
Meanwhile, Melania Trump’s popularity has risen following the release of her eponymous documentary on Feb. 1. Speaking about his wife, Trump said his “principle” is that a family can only have one star.
“I always say, a family cannot have two stars. I told her that,” he said, expressing pride in Melania and noting that “the American people love the First Lady.”
He joked: “A family can’t have two stars. I don’t know what that means, but it’s not good. But it’s also a good thing, because we’re proud of her.”
At the meeting, Trump reiterated that the purpose of the “Board of Peace” is to monitor the Gaza ceasefire and promote reconstruction. Countries including Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan have pledged $7 billion for Gaza relief, while the U.S. will provide $10 billion.
Trump’s remarks came amid discussions in U.S. politics about whether Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance are potential rivals for the 2028 presidential race. Both have stated they are not competitors.
Trump: Vance and Rubio make a perfect team
According to Fox News, Trump praised the two senior officials, saying they have “very different” approaches to diplomacy, but “the results are the same.”
He first praised Vance, calling him talented.
“JD graduated from a four-and-a-half-year college in two years, then went to Yale and graduated first in his class, and served in the military. Amazing. But when he was at Yale, there was someone slightly ahead of him. So he married her. Can you believe it? He married the person ahead of him.” He was referring to Second Lady Usha Vance.
Trump also said Vance “is a smart person, a good person, and my friend,” but noted he “can be a bit tough at times.”
He said: “We have to let him slow down occasionally. He will speak his mind.”
Regarding Rubio, Trump said he is the “other extreme” compared with Vance.
He said: “Sitting back there is Marco. Marco works with a velvet glove but delivers a lethal strike, right? The result is the same. Their methods are very different.”
The “Board of Peace” aims to raise funds for Gaza reconstruction and stability and was officially established during the World Economic Forum in January 2026.
By Gao Yun
