US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied reports that he is considering leaving President Donald Trump’s administration following the Republican Party’s sweeping defeat in Tuesday’s midterm elections, insisting that he intends to remain in office until the president’s term ends in January 2029.
In an interview with The New York Times on Thursday, November 5, Rubio rejected speculation that he was preparing to resign to pursue the Republican presidential nomination in 2028. Serving in the Trump administration until the end of the president’s term “has always been my plan,” Rubio said, expressing surprise at reports suggesting otherwise.
The former Florida senator, who simultaneously serves as secretary of state and White House national security adviser, has emerged as a prominent figure in discussions about the Republican Party’s future leadership.
Independent and Bloomberg reports fuel resignation speculation
The controversy intensified Thursday after The Independent reported that Rubio was considering stepping down following the Republican electoral losses, potentially allowing him to distance himself from the administration before launching a presidential campaign. The British newspaper suggested that Rubio was preparing to pursue the 2028 Republican nomination, citing sources familiar with the political discussions.
Bloomberg subsequently reported that Rubio and his advisers were reviewing his political options, including a possible departure from government. According to people familiar with the discussions, Rubio had spoken with White House officials about stepping down but had been encouraged to remain.
The reports prompted strong denials from administration officials.
Dylan Johnson, the State Department’s assistant secretary for global public affairs, dismissed the Bloomberg report as fabricated and described The Independent’s account as baseless. The White House also rejected the suggestion that Rubio was preparing to resign, reiterating the president’s confidence in his secretary of state.
Rubio avoids questions about 2028 presidential ambitions
During his interview with The New York Times, Rubio declined to elaborate on his political ambitions, declaring that he would no longer discuss the 2028 election.
“I literally will not talk about 2028 anymore,” he said.
Rubio has repeatedly expressed support for Vice President JD Vance, whom he has described as a close friend, saying he would back Vance if the vice president decided to seek the Republican nomination.
Both men are regularly mentioned in American political reporting as potential successors to Trump, although neither has formally announced a presidential campaign.
Rubio appeared alongside Trump at a campaign rally in Kansas on November 1, shortly before the midterm elections, briefly addressing supporters in an unusual campaign appearance for a sitting secretary of state.
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