Vance sells Iran war to the heartland as Rubio charms Washington

Published May 6, 2026 7:00am ET | Updated May 6, 2026 9:10am ET



The presumptive front-runners for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028 spent Tuesday defending President Donald Trump’s Iran war in dramatically different settings, offering an early glimpse into two competing political styles inside the GOP.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the administration’s case from the White House briefing room, where he condemned Iran over the use of mines in the Strait of Hormuz and charmed a packed room of reporters during a nationally televised appearance.

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.