Rubio admits Americans are struggling in post-midterm address

Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged on Friday that Americans are facing economic hardship. He made the comments during a speech to the Federalist Society in Washington. The timing follows the midterm elections, where Republican candidates suffered major losses.

Voters cited rising costs as a primary reason for their votes. Many blamed President Donald Trump for tariffs, the war in Iran, and unfulfilled promises to lower prices. Democrats regained control of Congress. Rubio’s remarks focused directly on this financial pain rather than on broader political strategy.

Rubio argued that the health of the economy does not depend on the stock market. He said the real measure is whether people have enough money to afford what they need. “I think we have to recognize that people are struggling. There’s no doubt about it,” he stated. “The health of our economy has nothing to do with the stock market. The health of their economy is whether they have enough money to be able to afford the things they need.”

The former Florida senator also defended the war in Iran. He argued the conflict was necessary to stop the Islamic Republic from obtaining a nuclear weapon. However, he admitted the war has raised gasoline prices and other costs for Americans. “It’s not easy to address these things because it’s not popular to address them,” he said. “It’s difficult. And oftentimes it inflicts, you know, pain, economic pain and otherwise. So we recognize that.”

Rubio warned against the idea that prosperity is self-perpetuating. He described economic progress as a long-term effort spanning years and decades. “That’s the challenge before us now, because I do think there’s a legitimate fear that we will be the first generation to leave the next worse off, and that can’t happen. That’s un-American,” he said.

The Secretary of State criticized international organizations for what he called the weaponization of international law. He accused foreign entities of trying to constrain U.S. actions. “We’ve heard the concept international law invoked against nearly every major foreign policy decision or action of this administration,” he said. He specifically mentioned the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, and international activists.

Rubio has not decided whether to run for president in 2028. He has previously avoided discussing a potential race against Vice President JD Vance. This speech follows a similar address he gave in Greece last month, which also focused on Western values and political aspirations.