Let’s get something straight, because apparently Politico can’t: there is no debate inside the Trump White House about lifting sanctions on Russia’s energy empire—especially not on Nord Stream 2, the same pipeline that became a geopolitical punchline under Joe Biden’s “lead from behind” doctrine.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio didn’t just dismiss Politico’s sloppy reporting—he body-slammed it. In a pointed social media post, Rubio labeled the report “unequivocally false” and demanded a full retraction. And you know what? He’s right to do it. This isn’t a case of journalistic nuance—it’s a flat-out distortion of facts wrapped in a click-hungry headline.
The story in question claimed the White House is “debating” whether to lift sanctions on Nord Stream 2 and other Russian energy assets as part of a broader discussion on ending the war in Ukraine. That word—debate—is doing a whole lot of heavy lifting. It implies serious policy-level consideration, but what Politico actually has is one official—Steve Witkoff—allegedly requesting internal briefings.
That’s not a “debate.” That’s a staffer asking questions. Period.
Yes, Steve Witkoff may be floating ideas internally. Yes, he reportedly has some kind of “friendship” with Vladimir Putin (which in itself is cause for concern). But let’s not pretend this guy is setting national policy. He’s not Secretary of State. He’s not National Security Advisor. And he sure as hell isn’t Donald Trump.
This is unequivocally false.
Neither Steve Witkoff nor I have had any conversations about lifting sanctions against Russia as part of a deal with Ukraine.
This is journalistic malpractice. If @POLITICO has an ounce of integrity they will fully retract this piece of fiction. pic.twitter.com/AoYFz7wWLA
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) April 24, 2025
The idea that Trump or Rubio—two of the most vocal critics of Russian aggression—would green-light a policy that hands Europe back to Moscow’s energy grip is absurd. It defies every tenet of “America First” energy policy and contradicts years of strategic effort to reduce European dependence on Russian gas while increasing American energy exports.
Let’s not beat around the bush. This isn’t about a debate inside the administration. It’s about a narrative war in the media. Politico wants readers to believe the Trump White House is fractured, confused, and ready to crawl into bed with Putin. But the facts don’t support that claim. Trump’s team has been clear—America’s energy dominance is non-negotiable. And Rubio, of all people, isn’t about to let a soft-on-Russia policy through the door.
This is the same Politico, mind you, that barely blinked when Joe Biden lifted Nord Stream 2 sanctions without getting a single strategic concession from Russia—then had to reimpose them after Putin invaded Ukraine. That was real policy failure. Not a hypothetical internal memo. Funny how that memory lapse never makes it into their reporting.
