ABC News host Jonathan Karl expressed surprise and skepticism that Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) would agree to become former President Donald Trump's running mate and pressed him about why he said it would be an "honor" during an interview Sunday.

"There was some reporting this week, that you are possibly under consideration to be Donald Trump’s running mate. I don’t put a lot of stock in this reporting right now, we’re early, but you said it would be an honor to be offered a spot on this ticket. Really?" Karl asked.

Rubio replied that he thought "anyone" should be honored to have the chance to be vice president if they are a public servant.

"I’m in the Senate because I want to serve the country. Being vice president is an important way to serve the country. I’ve also been clear. I’ve never talked to Donald Trump or talked to anybody on his team or family or inner circle about vice president. That’s the decision he’s going to make. He’s got plenty of really good people to pick from," Rubio added.

What about Pence?

Karl said that much of his surprise was because of what had happened to Trump's first vice president, Mike Pence.

"Look what happened to the last guy. I mean, a mob stormed the Capitol, literally calling to hang Mike Pence. Trump defended those chants of ‘Hang Mike Pence,’" Karl said.

But Rubio only defended Trump, saying that the country was better off under Trump and arguing with Karl about who caused the Russia-Ukraine war.

Karl then confronted Rubio with his own words in 2016.

"Can we take a trip down memory lane for a second?" Karl asked, then played a clip of Rubio calling Trump a "con artist" during the GOP primary process, when Rubio was a candidate running against Trump.

Rubio said in response that as a candidate against Trump, he said what he believed to be true at the time and compared his remarks to Vice President Kamala Harris "insinuating that Joe Biden was a segregationist."

Rubio in the running

Trump recently mentioned a number of candidates he was considering for running mates, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a Democrat turned independent.

Rubio would not be the obvious choice because he is fairly moderate, and because he is from Trump's home state of Florida and would not have a whole lot to offer geographically.

The ideal running mate for Trump would be from a swing state that could potentially come into Trump's win column because of that.

None of his stated choices accomplish this--the only non-red state is Hawaii, which is likely to remain in Democrats' hands even if Gabbard is chosen.

Taking a chance

For his part, Mike Pence has said he won't endorse Trump in 2024, but has not attacked him as some other former officials and administration members have.

Anyone who allies with Trump is taking a chance of making an enemy if they cross him, but for many, including Rubio apparently, it's a chance they are willing to take.