Secretary of State Marco Rubio's laughter behind President Donald Trump revealed the administration's hidden thoughts, a political analyst noted.
During an episode of Bulwark Takes, Will Saletan pointed out the way cameras caught Rubio chuckling to himself while standing behind Trump at a July 8 press conference and said it revealed the White House's good news about the Iran war was false.
A reporter at the press conference pointed out that Trump went from describing the Iranian leaders as "very rational people, nice people to deal with, strong people, smart people." But he changed his tune by calling them "scum, sick people and being led by sick people." The reporter asked, "What changed?"
Saletan pointed out that in the video, just over Trump's right shoulder, "there's Rubio laughing." Saletan explained, "Trump told Americans that there was a new regime in Iran and that the new leaders were good guys, and the war was over," and Rubio's laughter revealed the administration knew that was far from the truth.
"Now he says, 'Oops,'" Saletan said about Trump. "So, he was either an idiot or a liar or both. Rubio thinks it's hilarious. He thinks it's cute."
Saletan kept a frame up of the paused video, with Rubio smirking behind Trump, and explained, "What you're looking at there is a picture of a moron with a cynic standing behind him." He also pointed out that on a flight coming home from that press conference, Trump said Iran called again and said they wanted to make a deal.
"That was July 8. That was two weeks ago. But Iran kept shooting," Saletan said. "They hit more ships. They hit our allies. But Trump said, 'Don't worry. Don't worry,' he said. 'We're wiping them out.'"