U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sharply criticized CNN for allegedly spreading "gossip" through a story about him and U.S. Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, UNN reports.
"CNN is a gossip tabloid targeting Trump that uses minor sources to generate clicks and create problems," Rubio wrote on X.
The head of the State Department said that Witkoff is one of the people he works most closely with in his team.
In addition, Rubio called the CNN authors pathetic people.
Waltz and Rubio released a joint statement regarding the Trump and Zelensky talks20.03.25, 12:52
Context
CNN published a story saying that Rubio was lobbying for the prestigious position of America's top diplomat after he lost the vice presidential post to Trump to J.D. Vance.
CNN noted that Rubio did not take into account that in the position of Secretary of State he could be overshadowed by one of Trump's closest friends, developer and billionaire Steve Witkoff.
The article also says that during the first two months of Trump's second administration, Rubio somehow faded into the background on the world stage than Witkoff, whose portfolio has expanded beyond his official title of Special Envoy to the Middle East.
Witkoff "flies around the world playing Secretary of State. He has one thing no one else has — he has 100% Trump's trust," said a person familiar with the situation.
"I think he's frustrated," a senator who is still in contact with Rubio told CNN.
People familiar with Rubio and the work say he looks uncomfortable with how the White House has downplayed his role.
"It's not what he expected," one of the people said. "Witkoff came out of nowhere," they added. "Trump loves him."