Washington DC: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has brushed aside speculation that he could leave the Trump administration following the Republican Party’s setbacks in the midterm elections, making it clear that he intends to remain in office for the entirety of President Donald Trump’s second term.
In an interview with The New York Times, Rubio rejected suggestions that he was considering stepping down to focus on a possible presidential campaign in 2028, reiterating that completing Trump’s four-year term had always been his objective.
“Working for President Trump for the duration of his second term has always been my plan,” Rubio said.
Expressing surprise over reports suggesting his possible departure, he added, “I don’t know where these things come from, to be honest with you.”
Rubio also dismissed speculation surrounding his multiple responsibilities within the administration, saying he remains satisfied with his current assignments.
“I love the work I’m doing. And plus I always laugh when they say he’s going to leave his job. I go, ‘Which one?’” he remarked.
The speculation gained traction after the Republicans suffered setbacks in the November midterm elections, triggering discussions about the party’s future leadership and the potential contenders for the 2028 presidential race.
However, both the White House and the State Department have rejected reports of an impending departure. White House spokesperson Beni Rae Harmony described the claims as a fabricated hoax circulated through anonymous sources, maintaining that Rubio remains firmly committed to Trump and the MAGA movement.
Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson also dismissed the reports as completely baseless.
Despite the denials, Rubio’s political standing has reportedly strengthened amid questions over Vice President JD Vance’s prospects for the 2028 Republican nomination.
Conservative donor Dan Eberhart suggested that the midterm results had significantly altered the political calculations within the party.
“The midterms blew up Vance’s [2028 prospects] and Rubio’s stock is soaring,” Eberhart said.
He also pointed to Rubio’s longstanding political objective of challenging Cuba’s communist government, suggesting that the secretary of state would find it difficult to return to Miami without making progress on that front.
The son of Cuban immigrants, Rubio has made opposition to Cuba’s communist regime a central theme throughout his political career. His current position gives him considerable influence over US foreign policy towards Havana.
According to The New York Post, administration insiders said Rubio had planned from the beginning to serve all four years of Trump’s second term. A senior administration official reportedly noted that Rubio had even joked about not taking a holiday during his tenure.
Rubio currently holds two major responsibilities as secretary of state and national security adviser, placing him at the centre of the administration’s foreign policy and national security decisions. He also works closely with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Vice President JD Vance.
Although Rubio had previously indicated that he would step aside if Vance pursued the Republican presidential nomination in 2028, the changing political landscape has fuelled speculation about a potential independent bid.
However, Rubio has firmly refused to engage in discussions about his future electoral ambitions.
“I literally will not talk about 2028 anymore,” he told The New York Times. “I just won’t do it.”
Meanwhile, Rubio is scheduled to deliver his first major address following the midterm elections next Friday at the Federalist Society’s National Lawyers Convention in Washington, DC.
