Donald Trump reads Marco Rubio’s private note out loud on live TV
President Donald Trump appeared to publicly embarrass Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a White House news conference after reading a handwritten note from him on live television, RadarOnline.com reports.
The incident occurred on Friday, January 9, during a meeting with oil and gas executives at the White House. Trump, 79, was sitting between Vice President JD Vance and Rubio, 54, as the exchange unfolded.
After Trump called ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance to speak, Rubio was seen discreetly speaking pass a note to the president as Vance, 41, looked on with visible confusion. Trump immediately drew attention to the exchange.
“Marco just gave me a note,” Trump told the audience before reading the message aloud. “Go back to Chevron,” Trump said, then continued, “They want to discuss something. Go back to Chevron.”
As Trump read the note, Vance laughed while Rubio smiled awkwardly. Trump then added, “Go ahead, I’m going back to Chevron,” as he placed the note on the table and patted Rubio on the back. “Thanks, Marco.”
Moments later, a voice off camera asked, “Was there a question, Mr. President?” Trump picked up the newspaper again and replied, “Yes, go ahead,” before turning back to Rubio and asking, “Marco, what was the, what are you saying here?”
Energy Secretary Chris Wright quickly stepped in, calling on Chevron’s Mark Nelson to provide updates from the company. As Nelson spoke, Rubio picked up the note, folded it and put it away.
The moment quickly circulated online, with observers noting Rubio’s visible discomfort as Trump read the private message in front of the assembled executives and press.
Trump continued the meeting for another ten minutes before concluding: “Although I am very well represented by our Secretary of State. He could probably do an even better job than me, but who knows.”
The exchange mirrored a similar moment from the fall, when Rubio passed another note to Trump during a meeting with conservative influencers and reporters on Oct. 8, 2025. That note, captured by photographers, instructed Trump to approve a social media post about a tentative peace deal between Israel and Hamas.
“You have to give an approval Truth Social post soon so you can be the first to announce the deal,” the note read.
Trump acknowledged the message at the time, telling attendees, “I just got a note from the secretary of state saying we’re very close to a deal on the Middle East, and they’re going to need me pretty soon.”
“I just got a note from the secretary of state saying we’re very close to an agreement on the Middle East, and they’re going to need me pretty soon,” Trump reiterated, adding, “So we’ll answer a few more questions.”
