(March 3, 2026)

The exchange took place after Rubio made a jaw-dropping admission on Monday: the U.S. struck Iran because Israel was planning to strike first, and Washington feared Tehran would retaliate against American forces.

But asked on Tuesday if Israel forced his hand, Trump rejected this explanation outright, telling reporters in the Oval Office: “No. I might have forced their hand.”

Asked to explain this a few hours later, a defensive Rubio said: “I was asked a very specific question, so you guys can misrepresent it, but I was asked a very specific question yesterday.

“The bottom line is this: we, the president, determined we were not going to get hit first. It’s that simple, guys, we are not going to put American troops in harm’s way.”