'Not Kissinger': Marco Rubio's 'level of seriousness' questioned as he takes on new role

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) was very blunt when asked on CNN Friday if he thought Marco Rubio could juggle "both being Secretary of State and national security adviser."

"No," Swalwell said, nearly before anchor Kate Bolduan finished her question.

Bolduan continued, "When they say Kissinger did it, that was 40 years ago."

"He's not Kissinger," Swalwell said.

He then listed the foreign policy challenges the Trump administration currently faces, including Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Russia, China, and Taiwan.

"They command serious people who are focused and are bringing competence to the job," Swalwell said. "We don't have that in Secretary of State Rubio and we don't have that in [Defense Secretary] Pete Hegseth. And, so, Donald Trump, — it's just been, you know — we went from a 'Trump slump' to now a 'Trump train wreck,' from the economy and national security, and there's a level of seriousness that people want to see on these consequential decisions."

ALSO READ: Trump's top spy chief blasted as Raw Story exposes 'crazy' cash grab

Earlier in the interview, Swalwell called Mike Waltz, who was ousted as national security adviser Thursday, a "fall guy for Hegseth."

"I think what they all did was awful," Swalwell said, referring to the Signal chat debacle, in which classified air strike information was shared via unsecured means.

"I mean, they made a mistake. It was a huge mistake that others would pay a big price for. But worse than that, they tried to gaslight the American people and say that what was in that group chat was not what was in that group chat, and it was insane. And, so, if you're willing to, you know, make a mistake and then double-down and lie to the American people, you shouldn't be making decisions about our troops."

Hours after news broke that Waltz was out as national security adviser, President Donald Trump announced that Rubio would take over the post and Waltz would take on a new position.

Without acknowledging why Waltz was being ousted, Trump wrote on Truth Social, "I am pleased to announce that I will be nominating Mike Waltz to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations. From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation’s Interests first. I know he will do the same in his new role."

Watch the CNN clip below or click the link.