Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently recounted a bizarre incident aboard Air Force One where senior officials faced an unusual dilemma, debating for approximately 90 minutes whether a motionless individual in a conference room was simply sleeping or had potentially died. Rubio shared the extraordinary details during an appearance on the Katie Miller Podcast, explaining that the event occurred while officials were returning from a trip to China.
"But if they were dead, like what do you do? You have a dead body on the plane. Who's going to — what do you deal with that?" — Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
According to Rubio, the unidentified person was observed sleeping deeply within a conference room on the presidential aircraft. Despite significant activity and noise around them, the individual remained entirely motionless and unresponsive to any external stimuli. This prolonged unresponsiveness raised serious concerns among the officials present, prompting a protracted discussion about how to proceed.
"We spent about 90 minutes sort of debating should we make a move?" Rubio recalled, detailing the internal deliberation. "Should I call the doc? Should we deal with this?" The situation presented an awkward and sensitive challenge for the officials. On one hand, there was the potential for extreme embarrassment if they were to wake someone merely enjoying an unusually deep slumber and summon medical personnel. "Because it's embarrassing if you wake them up," Rubio stated, imagining the individual's potential response: "Oh, I was just sleeping."
However, the alternative possibility was far more grim and carried profound implications for presidential travel and protocol. "But if they were dead, like what do you do?" Rubio pondered during the podcast. "You have a dead body on the plane. Who's going to — what do you deal with that?" He further noted that the person's breathing pattern was difficult to discern, adding to the officials' apprehension. "The breathing pattern was difficult," he said, indicating the gravity of their concerns.
The unique environment of Air Force One, a highly secure and controlled aircraft, typically involves stringent protocols for all personnel and passengers. Any medical emergency, especially one involving a potential fatality, would trigger a cascade of procedures, including immediate medical attention and potentially diverting the flight. The fact that officials debated for such an extended period without immediately summoning the on-board physician or attempting to rouse the individual highlights the unusual nature of the dilemma they perceived.
Despite the mounting concern and the 90-minute discussion, Rubio stated that officials ultimately did not call the physician or wake the person. The mystery eventually resolved itself without intervention. "Luckily, the person was fine," Rubio confirmed, bringing a relieved conclusion to the anecdote.
Rubio did not disclose the identity of the deeply sleeping individual, nor did he provide the exact date of the flight or the names of other officials involved in the discussion. These omissions have left several questions unanswered, particularly regarding who could sleep so profoundly on such a high-stakes aircraft and why standard protocols for checking on an unresponsive individual might have been delayed. The story quickly fueled discussion on social media, with some users speculating jokingly about the person's identity and others questioning the officials' hesitation.
This Air Force One revelation follows a separate, related exchange involving Secretary Rubio approximately a month prior to his podcast appearance. During a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA) questioned Rubio about President Donald Trump's sleeping habits, specifically asking if Rubio had witnessed President Trump fall asleep during multiple meetings.
Rubio unequivocally denied the accusation. "I’ve never seen him fall asleep," Rubio responded under oath. He then offered a contrasting perspective on President Trump's energy levels, stating, "On the contrary, the guy doesn’t sleep, which is a big problem." Rubio elaborated that President Trump's limited sleeping schedule keeps administration officials constantly busy, noting that the President often contacts him early in the morning.
Representative Lieu disputed Rubio's characterization, asserting that he possessed video footage from a Cabinet meeting that he argued showed President Trump with his eyes closed while Rubio was speaking. "Secretary Rubio, I’m going to show you, in a moment, a video that shows you just lied to Congress," Lieu stated during the hearing. Despite Lieu's challenge, Rubio maintained his stance that he had never personally witnessed President Trump fall asleep. No formal congressional action related to Representative Lieu’s accusation has been reported since the hearing.
Both incidents, though distinct, shed light on the public and private conduct of high-ranking officials and the President. Rubio's account of the Air Force One incident, now a source of humorous reflection for him, underscores the unexpected situations that can arise even in the most secure environments, while the exchange with Rep. Lieu highlights the scrutiny public figures face regarding their statements and observations.
