Marco Rubio Makes the Case for America

Sarah Anderson-Opinion : May 7, 2026
PJ Media

As someone on X said, put some uplifting music over that and mix it up with some images of Americana, and you've got yourself one heck of a presidential campaign video.

[PJMedia.com] ...In case you missed it, Secretary of State Marco Rubio filled in for Karoline Leavitt—who is currently on maternity leave—on Tuesday, and it went about as well for him as it could have gone. He was funny. He was charming. He was knowledgeable. He was authoritative. And I hate myself for saying this so prematurely, but he was... presidential. (Screengrab image: via X-The White House)

I won't recap the entire briefing. I did that on Tuesday, and if you're interested, you can read about it Here.

...

But there is one thing I left out on purpose because I felt it deserved its own separate real estate: Rubio's case for America.

Kelly Wright, the White House correspondent for the Christian Broadcasting Network, asked the secretary a unique question: "You've had a deep faith for God and country... what is your hope for America at a time such as this?"

Rubio's response was so perfect that I almost wondered if he'd paid Wright to set him up. These days, we hear so many politicians who are angry, negative, cynical, and all doom and gloom about the future of this country. I'm talking about Republicans and Democrats. And it's not just politicians. I can only speak for myself and the comments and emails I receive, but I think many of us here in this PJ Media community of readers and writers get caught up in it, as well. I've mentioned this before, but I hear more positive things said about our country when I'm traveling outside of it than I do when I'm at home.

But our Secretary of State didn't do that. He was hopeful and optimistic. Here's his entire response:

"My hope for America is what it's always been. I think it's the hope I hope we all share. We want it to continue to be the place where anyone from anywhere can achieve anything, where you're not limited by the circumstances of your birth, by the color of your skin, by your ethnicity, but frankly, it's a place where you are able to overcome challenges and achieve your full potential.

"I think that should be the goal of every country in the world, frankly, but I think in the US—we're not perfect. Our history is not one of perfection, but it's still better than anybody else's history. And ours is a story of perpetual improvement. Each generation has left the next generation of Americans freer, more prosperous, safer, and that is our goal as well.

"But it is a unique and exceptional country, and as we come upon this 250-year anniversary I think we have a lot to learn and be proud of in our history. It is one of perpetual and continuous improvement where each generation has done its part to bring us closer to fulfilling the vision that the founders of this country had upon its founding."

As someone on X said, put some uplifting music over that and mix it up with some images of Americana, and you've got yourself one heck of a presidential campaign video... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

Continue reading, and watch a video clip of Rubio's response Here.