Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday quoted 1990s hip-hop group Cypress Hill to characterise Iran’s leadership amid a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking in the White House briefing room, Rubio said the US blockade on Iranian ports would continue until Iran stops efforts to block free maritime traffic, which he described as “piracy.”
Rubio stated: “The time has come for Iran to make a sensible choice … the top people in that government are, to say the least … they're insane in the brain.” The phrase is taken directly from the chorus of Cypress Hill’s 1993 hit “Insane in the Brain.” He also referenced Ice Cube’s 1992 song “Check Yo Self,” warning Iran to “check themselves before they wreck themselves.”
Rubio, who also serves as national security adviser, has a history of inserting rap lyrics into public remarks. In March, he quoted Public Enemy’s “Welcome to the Terrordome” during a cabinet meeting, and earlier this year he cited Notorious BIG’s “Juicy” when discussing the US operation to remove former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
Rubio is a known fan of Public Enemy and has been filmed DJing at a family wedding. When asked about his DJ name, he declined to answer, saying reporters were “not ready.”
Separately, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied claims that Iran has trained dolphins to conduct suicide attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. Joint Chiefs Chair General Dan Caine joked about “sharks with laser beams” in response.
