At the Munich Security Summit, all eyes were on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as European leaders anxiously awaited his address on Saturday, seeking clarity on the tone he would adopt.

Although his speech did not entirely alleviate their concerns, it was perceived as a reassuring message to allies that despite potential strain in US relations under Donald Trump, they would not be severed.

Rubio was not the sole American voice at the security summit, as other prominent figures also made their presence known.

Even if Rubio's remarks had been less well-received, with sharp criticism of Europeans similar to those made by Vice-President JD Vance at the previous year's conference, other American politicians were on hand to offer a more conciliatory tone, echoing the Persian poet's wisdom that difficult times are transient.

California Governor Gavin Newsom spoke at a conference event on Friday, emphasizing that Donald Trump's presidency is temporary, stating, "He'll be gone in three years."

Newsom was among dozens of American legislators and governors in attendance, including some Democrats who may potentially vie for the party's 2028 presidential nomination.

Many of these individuals stressed that the US would maintain its strong partnership with Europe, reiterating sentiments similar to those expressed by Rubio, albeit without his critique of cultural decline on the continent.

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire stated, "The reason we're here is to provide reassurance that we understand how important our European allies are."

Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican, echoed this sentiment, noting that the US and Europe are not engaged in a "civil war" and cautioning American allies against becoming mired in the rhetoric of domestic politics.

This has proven challenging in recent times, given Trump's imposition of steep tariffs on numerous US trading partners and his expressed desire, along with some of his top aides, to reshape the global order, harness American military power, and refocus US foreign policy on the western hemisphere.

One notable example of this shift in American outlook is Trump's repeated expressions of interest in purchasing Greenland, which he reiterated before departing for a weekend in Florida on Friday.

Trump's propensity for pushing boundaries and testing the limits of his authority has not been confined to foreign policy, prompting several Democrats to address domestic concerns during the Munich conference.

Virginia Senator Mark Warner warned that Trump's discussions of nationalizing elections and implementing strict voter identification requirements via executive order jeopardize the freedom and fairness of the upcoming November midterm congressional elections.

Warner expressed his dismay, stating, "I never thought I would say that in 2026 America."

Trump has defended his efforts, including the proposed SAVE act, which would introduce a national voter identification requirement through legislative means, citing their popularity among a significant majority of Americans and the need to prevent voter impersonation.

Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, who recently faced an unsuccessful indictment attempt by the Department of Justice related to a video urging US soldiers to disregard "illegal" orders, commented on being in the administration's spotlight.

Slotkin observed that America is "going through something profound" and expressed optimism, saying, "We'll get through it."

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was a major draw at the conference, aside from Rubio, and highlighted the connection between growing wealth inequality, a key focus of her domestic policy agenda since her 2018 congressional victory, and the rise of authoritarian governments.

Ocasio-Cortez emphasized the urgent need for western democracies to address economic disparities and deliver tangible benefits to the working class, warning that failure to do so would lead to a more isolated world dominated by authoritarian regimes that similarly neglect the needs of working people.

Ocasio-Cortez's perspective on the necessity for western democracies to provide a compelling alternative to authoritarian governments aligns with views expressed by Joe Biden during his presidency, albeit from a different wing of the Democratic Party.

In contrast, Trump's "America First" foreign policy and emphasis on preserving Western culture present a distinct worldview, one that resonated with a plurality of Americans who voted to return him to the White House in 2024, setting the stage for a tumultuous year that included Vance's confrontational Munich speech.

While Rubio has sought to mitigate some of the tensions, the Democrats attending the Munich conference aimed to provide a more distinct counterpoint to Trump's vision.

Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego noted, "Right now, Europe just wants us to be better, right? And I think this has been a very good conference to reassure nerves." He added, "Sometimes you have to remind them that this is not all Trump … We're still here."

Despite challenging weather conditions, Akshay Bhatia managed to capitalize on the situation and is now in the lead heading into the final day of competition.

The current standings for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am after round three are as follows:

The leaderboard shows Akshay Bhatia (US) at 19 under, followed by Collin Morikawa (US), Jake Knapp (US), and Sepp Straka (Aut) at 17 under, with Joseph Bridgeman (US) at 16 under, and Hideki Matsuyama (Jap) at 15 under, while Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Min Woo Lee (Aus), and Sam Burns (US), as well as Matthew McNealy, are all at 14 under.

Other notable players include Xander Schauffele (US) and Jordan Speith (US) at 13 under, and Rory McIlroy (NI) and Justin Rose (Eng) at 9 under.

Akshay Bhatia has taken a two-stroke lead after the third round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, with Collin Morikawa making a significant move up the leaderboard with a 62, putting him in contention for his first win in nearly two and a half years.

Bhatia, who was previously tied for first place with Ryo Hisatsune at 15 under, made a strong start with six birdies in his first seven holes, giving him a lead of as many as five strokes at one point.

However, the blustery conditions in California took their toll, and a bogey at the 17th hole reduced Bhatia's advantage to two strokes.

The strong gusts also slowed down play on the final green, and Bhatia ultimately carded a 68, leaving him at 19 under par.

Morikawa's impressive 10-under-par round propelled him to second place, tied with Jake Knapp, who scored an eagle on the last hole, having also achieved an eagle on the first, to finish with a 66.

Sepp Straka also joined the tie for second place with a round of 67, making it a three-way contest.

Meanwhile, defending champion Rory McIlroy, who started the day six strokes behind, saw his chances diminish further after carding an even par 72, leaving him 10 strokes off the lead.

Due to the forecast of heavy rain and strong winds for Sunday, the start times for the final round have been adjusted, with the tournament now scheduled to begin between 07:22 and 09:45 local time, using split tees and threesomes.

As a result, the final round will get underway earlier than initially planned, with the hopes of minimizing the impact of the inclement weather on the competition.