Trump jokes about firing Marco Rubio at US midterm rally
President Donald Trump joked Sunday night about sacking United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio due to what he called his rising popularity.
The head of government took a playful swipe during his final midterm campaign rally in Salina, Kansas, to endorse incumbent Republican Senator Roger Marshall.
"He's getting a little bit too popular. I'm not happy about this … I don't like it," Trump stated. "If he gets any more popular, I got to say 'You're fired.'
In his remarks, Trump knocked Democratic contenders in the Kansas midterm election — Adam Hamilton, nominee for Senate, and Cindy Holscher, nominee for Governor.
The President stressed that "both have F ratings" from the National Rifle Association, NRA. "That would mean they want to take your guns away," he told the audience.
Hamilton, meanwhile, said he isn't going to Washington to play partisan politics, accusing politicians, including his opponent, of putting the party ahead of the people who elected them.
Citing the war in Iran, the Democrat criticised Marshall for repeatedly voting in support of a continued military operation despite its financial impact on the constituents.
"Kansans pay for those votes every time they fill up at the gas station," Hamilton said, adding that farmers in Iowa are also complaining about the prices of diesel and fertilizer.
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the US Senate heading into the November 3 elections. The battle for the Senate involves 35 seats, with Republicans defending 22 and Democrats defending 13.