By MATTHEW LEE
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday plan to show off a newly arrived oil tanker filled with Venezuelan crude to be processed in Texas refineries, according to a congressional aide and two U.S. officials.
The visit to Port Arthur, Texas, comes on the same day that Trump is campaigning in the state for Republican candidates in the midterms.
The president has rallies scheduled in Corpus Christi and Lubbock. Trump is trying to shore up support for U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton, who is locked in a tight race with Democratic candidate James Talarico.
It’s not clear whether Rubio, who also serves as Trump’s national security adviser, would take part in any campaign events. But it’s the first time that he’s hitting the road with Trump as the president barnstorms the country.
The two U.S. officials and the congressional aide spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss Rubio’s plans before they were publicly announced.
It’s highly unusual for the nation’s top diplomat to participate in political travel. Rubio’s trip would be the latest example of how Trump’s second presidency has blurred the lines between governing and campaigning. Attorney General Todd Blanche has already been appearing at rallies alongside Republican candidates.
Rubio previously ran for president in 2016 and is considered a top prospect in 2028. He has not said whether he will run, and his political activities have been limited since becoming secretary of state.
Related Posts:
- Rubio Urges Cubans to Seek a “Discrete Partnership With the CIA” — Trump Says U.S. Ship Will Stop “About 50 Yards Off the Coast” News Writing Friday afternoon on social media, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Cubans to work with the CIA to bring about change in their country. Reposting Rubio’s message and a video, the CIA instructed Cubans how to connect with the agency. Earlier in the day, at a rally in…
- US told Venezuelan authorities that opposition leader Machado should be allowed to return News By MATTHEW LEE, AP Diplomatic Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that the Trump administration told Venezuela’s interim authorities “weeks and weeks ago” that opposition leader María Corina Machado should be allowed to return as the country moves ahead with preparing for elections next year.…
- Talarico on Musk’s Texas Senate Spending: “Texas Is Not for Sale” — Musk: “Talarico Is a Far Left Extremist” News State Rep. James Talarico (D-TX), the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, made Elon Musk the center of his closing argument at a rally last week. He said of the world’s wealthiest man, who’s supporting the GOP nominee, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton: “Elon Musk is trying to buy…
- Trump Says “We’re Making a Freaking Fortune” as Gas Prices Rise — Newsom: “Congratulations to Big Oil” News President Trump told a rally in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday that the country is “making a freaking fortune” from oil, as national gas prices sit around $4.29 a gallon. He said his advisers had told him not to say it. Trump said: “We’re making money like we’ve never made before.…
- Senator Says Trump’s Oil Holdings Soared During Iran War, “Americans Are Suffering” News Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) posted Monday about a new Democratic congressional report estimating that the value of President Trump’s oil and gas investments has risen during the war with Iran. “Trump and Big Oil profit while Americans have to spend $100+ billion more on gas. Our new report shows that…
(Visited 2 times, 1 visits today)