Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in a lively debate with the mainstream media on Sunday during a series of appearances, following President Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a conversation with CBS host Margaret Brennan, Rubio was urged to reveal specifics about Trump’s recent discussion with Putin in Alaska and the upcoming White House meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy.

“It’s a ridiculous media narrative suggesting that European leaders are coming here because Trump intends to pressure Zelensky into a poor agreement. We’ve been collaborating with these leaders for weeks… We extended the invitation for them to visit,” Rubio informed Brennan.

‘To have a deal … to reach the end of this conflict, both sides are going to have to make concessions,’ Rubio said of the agreement America is working to broker between Russia and Ukraine.

Brennan pushed Rubio on whether he, and by extension the rest of the Trump administration’s leadership, were ‘demanding withdrawal’ of Russian troops from land that Putin ‘has already seized land by force.’

‘This is about what Ukraine can accept. And what Russia can accept. They both have to accept it, otherwise, there won’t be a peace deal,’ Rubio told Brennan.

‘If there aren’t concessions, if one side gets everything they want, that’s called surrender. That’s called the end of the war through surrender. And that’s not what we’re close to doing, because neither side here is on the verge of surrender or anything close to it,’ the Secretary of State continued.

X users piled on the praise for Rubio’s CBS performance, and a similar takedown he offered on ABC Sunday as well.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appears on Face The Nation on CBS on August 17, 2025

CBS host Margaret Brennan questions U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appears on Face The Nation on CBS on August 17, 2025

‘Can you name any concessions that Vladimir Putin made during this meeting?’ ABC host Martha Raddatz asked Rubio on Sunday.

‘I wouldn’t name them on your program,’ Rubio fired back. ‘Why would I do that?’

Conservative commentator and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk wrote ‘bravo to Sec. Marco Rubio this morning for embarrassing CBS and ABC News. Impressive he didn’t just walk out of those interviews.’

‘Imagine hating President Trump so much that you actively root for peace talks to fail. What vile, ghoulish creatures,’ Kirk added, doubling down on his disapproval of Brennan and ABC host Martha Raddatz.

‘I don’t care if you’re Republican or Democrat—anyone should be able to see how blatantly the mainstream media twists the narrative in this interview alone,’ wrote an X user posting under the handle @jaimewildshark.

Conservative commentator and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk via X

U.S. President Donald Trump walks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as they meet to negotiate for an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., August 15, 2025

President Donald Trump meets with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. At left is Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and second from right is Secretary of State Marco Rubio

 Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich chimed in that the ‘news media and the “expert” analysts and commentators are making fools of themselves over the Trump-Putin meeting.’

‘Secretary of State Marco Rubio had it just right when he said the press literally had no idea what was said in the meetings. President Trump is a great negotiator and Alaska was just the opening act in a multi act play. Patience and calm would be a wise approach for the time being,’ Gingrich added in his analysis.

X user @VigilantFox noted that Marco Rubio absolutely ‘humiliated CBS’ Margaret Brennan after she melted down over Trump not achieving a ceasefire or slapping new sanctions.’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House on Monday, and leaders of other European nations, including Britain, France, and Germany are expected to be in attendance.