Rubio shuts down questions from the “Today” host about Trump’s Jan. 6 pardon

Secretary of State Marco Rubio He got into a tense exchange with NBC’s “Today” show on Tuesday after one of the network’s hosts repeatedly asked him about President Trump’s Jan. 6 blanket pardon.

After a quick introduction, NBC immediately played a clip from 2021 of Rubio condemning the January 6 attack on the Capitol.

“Vladimir Putin loved everything that happened here today because what happened was better than anything he could have come up with to make us look like we’re falling apart,” he said at the time.

After the video ended, NBC host Craig Melvin asked Rubio what message the pardon sends to the rest of the world.

Flashback: Media attacked Trump for issuing preemptive pardons in 2020 before Biden did so four years later

Rubio responded that he would not “participate in internal political discussions” with him Media He was unable to assume his position as head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“I hope you all understand that my days — at least the time I spent at the State Department engaging in domestic policy — will be put aside while I focus on U.S. affairs around the world and the commitments we have to undertake.” He later added: “To make our country a safer, stronger and more prosperous place.”

Melvin again pressed Rubio about a pardon, asking whether Trump would agree The defendants are now released An incentive for a future attack

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“I think it’s unfortunate, you know, that our first meeting because I agreed to come this morning with you. I’m going to be working on foreign policy issues, and you want to revisit these issues that are going on in domestic politics. I just — that’s not going to happen,” Rubio said. “If you have questions for me about foreign policy and engagement in the world, I will be happy to talk to you about them.”

Rubio similarly stressed his “unique” focus on… Foreign policy When asked about the pardon on ABC’s “CBS Mornings” and “Good Morning America.”

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Excuse me Trump Almost all of the defendants were charged on January 6 Monday night after he promised in his inaugural parade to sign an executive order on the issue.

Sitting at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, Trump signed the release of more than 1,500 people charged with crimes stemming from the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The order requires the Federal Bureau of Prisons to act immediately upon receiving a pardon.

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Fox News’ Diana Stansey and Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.