In a press gaggle Sunday July 19, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio was leaving the final World Cup game between Spain and Argentina, he spoke first of sports then further on current issues from China to Iran to Venezuela.
QUESTION: Have you converted to football?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Oh, I’ve always been a fan of it. I’m an admirer. It’s a global sport. Look, first of all, I’m very – and congratulations, obviously, to Spain. We had time today to spend with both the president and His Majesty the King and Queen. I have a lot of friends from Argentina, so obviously sad for them. But I am very proud of America. I think America did a phenomenal job hosting the games. So did Canada and Mexico. And I hope a lot of people who got to come here and visit got to see aspects of our country that I think sometimes we take for granted – things about our nation that are so special that sometimes I think those of us who have lived here our whole lives maybe forget or take for granted.
So I was on the phone on the way up here wondering when the – when’s the next one we can bid on is, because it was such a spectacular event for the country. And so I’m very happy about it.
QUESTION: Secretary, last week the President talked about China’s meddling in the 2020 U.S. election. Is the visit by President Xi Jinping that he had mentioned around September 24th, is that still on track? And is the strategic stability relationship between the U.S. and China, the trade (inaudible), are those things still on track despite this evidence that the President has mentioned?
