US secretary of state Marco Rubio has dismissed reports that he is considering leaving the Trump administration following the Republican Party's setbacks in the midterm elections, saying that completing President Donald Trump's second term has “always been my plan”. In an interview with The New York Times, Rubio rejected speculation that he might step down ahead of a possible 2028 presidential campaign and declined to discuss his political ambitions. “Working for President Trump until the end of his term has always been my plan,” Rubio said, adding that he did not know where reports about his possible departure had originated. “I love the work I’m doing,” he said. “And plus I always laugh when they say he’s going to leave his job. I go, ‘Which one?’” Rubio, who also serves as Trump's national security adviser, refused to entertain questions about whether he was considering a presidential run in 2028. “I literally will not talk about 2028 anymore,” he told the newspaper in his White House office. “I just won’t do it.”
Rubio backs JD Vance for 2028 presidential race
Rubio has previously indicated that he would support Vice President JD Vance if he decided to run for president in 2028. “JD is a very good friend of mine,” Rubio told NBC News in May. “If JD runs for president, I think he’d be a phenomenal candidate. I’ve said publicly, and I’ll say it again, I’ll be the first person to sign up and support him.” However, Vance's post-election assessment on Wednesday included criticism of the administration's approach to the Iran war, its policy on Israel and its messaging on the economy. The vice-president blamed the war with Iran for the Republicans' election setbacks and said voters had turned against the administration's position on Israel and its handling of economic concerns. Trump has closely aligned himself with Israel and dismissed concerns over affordability as a “hoax”. Asked whether he agreed with Vance's assessment, Rubio initially deflected, saying he was not “really involved in domestic politics”. However, Rubio acknowledged the political implications of the Iran war when he appeared alongside Trump at a rally in Kansas on Sunday. Trump praised the secretary of state and joked that he might have to fire him because he had become “too popular”. Explaining his presence at the rally, Rubio said he was travelling with the president as the designated national security official. He also acknowledged Trump's remarks that the war had been a factor in the election results. “Higher prices at the gas pump, I acknowledge, is not like the kind of thing you campaign on and brag about,” Rubio said. However, he defended Trump's decision to take action despite its potential political costs, saying the president “deserves a tremendous amount of credit” for doing what he considered necessary. “Ultimately, that is the price of leadership — is the willingness to do things that may not be politically popular or expedient but are necessary for your country and its long-term future,” he said.
White House rejects reports of Rubio's possible exit
The White House and the State Department have also rejected reports that Rubio could leave his position following the Republican setbacks. White House spokesperson Beni Rae Harmony described the reports as a fabricated hoax circulated by anonymous sources, while assistant secretary of state for global public affairs Dylan Johnson called them baseless fake news. The speculation over a possible administration shake-up has also involved defence secretary Pete Hegseth, whose handling of the Iran war has drawn criticism following the election losses. The White House has denied reports that Hegseth and Rubio might leave their positions. Trump told ABC News that he had received calls about Hegseth but had “every intention” of keeping him. He later praised the defence secretary, saying he had “done a fantastic job”. However, Republican Representative Thomas Massie has said he intends to move ahead with an effort to impeach Hegseth, with a resolution expected as early as next week. Hegseth has rejected the effort, describing it as a politically motivated attempt to undermine him. Separately, The Washington Post reported that Trump could be considering replacing General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command. Both have played significant roles in providing guidance on the Iran war.
