Rubio criticizes media treatment of Trump in conflict with Anderson Cooper: “He will fight back”

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio defended former President Trump's attacks on the media and Democrats in his final message to voters this week, saying he would “hit back” against his critics.

During an interview on Tuesday, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper asked Rubio whether those close to Trump wished he had focused on the economy and the border in his final message to voters instead of attacking Nancy Pelosi at a campaign rally Monday.

“Well, this is a guy who has been compared to Adolf Hitler,” Rubio began, pointing to major networks like MSNBC that have compared his rallies to Nazi rallies.

The two clashed after Cooper intervened to remind Rubio of derogatory comments he and Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance, had made about Trump in recent years.

Rubio pushes back against Trump critics who accuse the former president of being “fascist.”

Republican Senator Marco Rubio defended former President Trump during an argument on CNN over Trump's rhetoric. (Screenshot/CNN)

“That was his vice president calling him Adolf Hitler,” Cooper said.

In 2016, Vance said that Trump could be America's “Hitler,” in comments he has since denied multiple times.

Rubio again brought up media coverage of the former president and his supporters to argue that the Republican presidential nominee has been treated unfairly.

“Maybe it wasn't your network, although I could point to things on your network that label everything he says as violent rhetoric, including jokes and also things that are clearly off the cuff. But he has a unique communication style, and that's not going to change the day before. This is the guy who faced relentless and ruthless attacks against his character. Yes, he will fight back,” Rubio said.

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Oprah Winfrey speaks on stage during Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign rally on November 4, 2024 in Philadelphia. (Reuters/Hannah McKay)

“So to argue that Kamala Harris hasn't mentioned his name in the last 24 hours after you have Oprah Winfrey – and look, I don't actually care, celebrities can support whoever they want – but last night she said something .” at a rally: “If you don’t vote today, you’ll never have the chance to vote again.” Really? Come on. This is silly stuff,” he continued. “Yes, there will be a backlash, there’s no doubt about it.”

During Harris' final campaign rally in Philadelphia on Monday, Winfrey told voters that they could not stay home this election or they could lose their right to vote.

“We can't wait this out. If we don't show up tomorrow, it's entirely possible we'll never have the opportunity to cast a vote again,” she warned.

Cooper told Rubio that Trump has also used his own charged rhetoric about the election in recent days, before again bringing up Vance's past comments about Trump.

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Senator JD Vance arrives in Cincinnati to vote at St. Anthony of Padua Maronite Catholic Church on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Rubio said that Vance had changed his mind about Trump, claiming that “a lot of people” who didn't vote for the GOP candidate in the last two elections voted for him in this election out of concern about the economy, the cost of living, etc the direction in which the country was moving would be correct.

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“Do you know what they say to each other? When Donald Trump was president, life was more affordable, our country was safer, and it was stronger and more respected in the world. And ultimately that will be crucial,” Rubio said. “When people put gas in their car, when people have to pay their bills at the end of the month, they think they're going to be better off under Donald Trump than they were under Kamala Harris' presidency. That's what will matter.” There is no doubt that both sides say this is the definition of an election that will decide the future of the country.