Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, Nov 14: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged conservatives not to view electoral defeats as the end of their political movement, saying that long-term political influence requires more than winning elections.
Addressing the conservative Federalist Society at the National Lawyers Convention in Washington, DC, on Friday, Rubio made his first major public remarks since the midterm elections, in which Republicans suffered significant losses.
“Politics requires more than simply winning elections,” Rubio told the gathering, adding that political achievements that endure are built over decades rather than election cycles.
He said political movements would experience both victories and defeats and urged conservatives to continue promoting their ideology despite electoral setbacks.
Rubio also argued that political power was not limited to elected governments. He pointed to universities, the media and civil society as institutions that influence public opinion and shape national values.
“Elections decide who holds office for a season, but elections, they do not decide by themselves what our institutions teach or what our lawyers believe,” he said.
Rubio also criticised what he described as repeated allegations that the United States had violated international law through its foreign policy and immigration enforcement measures. He defended US military strikes on boats allegedly used for drug trafficking in the Caribbean and the capture of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.
He accused international institutions of using international law to advance their own interests rather than applying it neutrally. He particularly criticised the United Nations and the International Criminal Court (ICC), arguing that the US had never accepted the court's authority.
The Trump administration imposed sanctions on the ICC last month as part of its efforts to challenge the court's investigations involving the United States.
Rubio also criticised what he called “activist courts” in the United States, accusing some judges of using legal injunctions to advance their preferences. He compared what he described as the misuse of international law with domestic legal disputes and said such actions could weaken the country's ability to protect its interests.
His remarks echoed President Donald Trump's repeated criticism of judges who have ruled against his administration. Trump has also clashed with the US Supreme Court over several policy decisions, including tariffs and birthright citizenship.
Rubio's address came amid speculation about his political future, with his name being mentioned as a possible contender for the 2028 presidential election. However, he did not make any announcement about his political plans during the speech.