Rubio: I ‘Disagree’ with Trump’s Approach But I ‘Acknowledge’ He’s ‘Gotten Results’ on Human Rights

EXCERPT:

RUBIO: Well, it’s not an approach that I entirely agree with.

I certainly believe that we need to confront Venezuela and Cuba and Iran and all the human rights violators in the world. And the White House is willing to do so publicly for nations that are hostile towards the United States. They believe — and it’s a point of disagreement — but they believe that on the countries that are cooperative with us on other issues, like Saudi Arabia, like, Egypt, we should privately confront them on the issues of human rights, that you will get a better result that way.

Now, I have a different take on it. I believe human rights are important for us to speak about publicly. The human rights activists in those countries would agree, because they’re demoralized when they don’t hear it.

But, in fairness, the White House has gotten results. I remember raising the issue of Aya Hijazi repeatedly with the White House. They raised it in private with Egypt. She was released. Sandy Phan-Gillis was being held unjustly in China. I raised it with the White House. They raised it privately with the Chinese. She was released.