Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R-FL) made a joke about driving a golf cart during a White House Cabinet meeting this week [1].
The exchange occurred before the start of official business, illustrating the personal rapport between the president and his top diplomatic advisor.
Rubio addressed the group at the beginning of the session, thanking the president for the gathering. He then noted that he had the opportunity to drive a vehicle for the first time in a year and a half [1]. He clarified that the vehicle in question was a golf cart [1].
"Thank you for bringing us out here. I got the chance to drive for the first time in a year and a half... the golf cart!" Rubio said [1].
The comment elicited laughter from those present at the meeting in Washington, D.C. [1, 2]. The brief moment of levity preceded the transition into the formal agenda of the Cabinet session [1, 2].
During the same gathering, President Donald Trump also contributed to the light atmosphere with a joke regarding communism. "I’ll be right up there with Lenin," Trump said [2].
The interaction was captured in video footage showing the high-ranking officials before they pivoted to the administrative duties of the executive branch [1, 2].
“"I got the chance to drive for the first time in a year and a half... the golf cart!"”
The interaction highlights the informal dynamics often present within the Trump administration's inner circle. By utilizing humor to open a formal Cabinet meeting, the leadership signals a preference for a relaxed interpersonal environment before addressing the complexities of U.S. foreign policy, and domestic governance.
