Romney Rips Trump Over China Comments While Rubio Claims President Was Joking

Marco Rubio and Mitt Romney both have a fair amount of experience dealing with Donald Trump. Rubio took on the President during the 2016 Republican primary and came out on the short end. Romney interviewed to be Trump’s Secretary of State at one point, before becoming a Utah senator.

While both men have been severely critical of Trump in the past, though Rubio has largely changed his tune since Trump took office. On Friday, Romney and Rubio both gave an opinion on Trump’s recent request that China investigate Joe Biden. While Romney sharply condemned the President, Rubio told the press Trump was being facetious.

Rubio was asked about the comments this afternoon. He told the press, “I don’t know if that’s a real request or that’s just him needling the press knowing you guys would get outraged by it. ”

This morning in the Florida Keys, @marcorubio was asked about the President calling on China to investigate @JoeBiden – see his answer ?@CBSMiami @MiamiHerald @alextdaugherty @MarcACaputo @PatriciaMazzei pic.twitter.com/3t1nTMWixn

— Jim DeFede (@DeFede) October 4, 2019

The Florida senator then blamed the media for falling for Trump’s ruse. I don’t think it’s a real request, I think he did it to get you guys,” continued Rubio. “I think he did it to provoke you to ask me and others and get outraged by it. Like I said, he plays it like a violin and everyone falls right into it. I don’t think it’s a real request.”

Romney was much stronger in his opinion of Trump’s request. He wrote on Twitter, “When the only American citizen President Trump singles out for China’s investigation is his political opponent in the midst of the Democratic nomination process, it strains credulity to suggest that it is anything other than politically motivated.”

When the only American citizen President Trump singles out for China’s investigation is his political opponent in the midst of the Democratic nomination process, it strains credulity to suggest that it is anything other than politically motivated.

— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) October 4, 2019