Secretary of State Marco Rubio is considering his future in President Donald Trump's administration after Republicans lost control of Congress, according to reports that have intensified speculation about a 2028 presidential campaign. The State Department rejected the account, and no departure has been announced.
Bloomberg reported that Rubio had met with advisers to discuss his options. Separately, The Independent cited Republican and British government sources who expected him to leave, potentially opening a contest with Vice President JD Vance for the party's next presidential nomination.
The reports put Rubio's ambitions at the center of Republican deliberations over Tuesday's defeats and the political consequences of the Iran war. Rubio, who also serves as White House national security adviser, would enter any campaign with close ties to an administration whose party has just suffered substantial losses.
An unnamed Rubio ally told The Independent that leaving would help him separate his political future from Trump's record.
"It makes complete sense for him to step down and leave the administration," the ally said. "But he cannot run while he is still secretary of state, and being tied to the administration will only harm his prospects anyway."
The ally also described Rubio as ahead of Vance in the prospective nomination contest, an assessment rather than an established measure of Republican support. Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana offered public encouragement, telling Fox News Digital, "I am all in" for Rubio.
Rubio has previously sought to limit speculation. In September, he told reporters he had "no plans at this time" for a White House bid and remained "100 per cent focused" on his administration responsibilities. He has also indicated that he would stand aside if Vance runs.
Accounts of his intentions remain divided. An administration insider told The Independent that Rubio had shown no signs of wanting to leave, while acknowledging that conditions inside the White House could change after the election.
Another source close to the White House suggested the losses could persuade him to stay to provide stability and a moderating influence. A longtime political operative familiar with Florida politics said developments in Cuba could also affect his timing.
Both the White House and State Department disputed The Independent's reporting. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said Trump had assembled a united team committed to his agenda. Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson called the report "completely baseless fake news."
Rubio's position has expanded considerably since he left the Senate to become secretary of state. He subsequently assumed the national security adviser role, bringing two major foreign-policy posts under his authority.
Yet The Independent reported that Trump's envoys Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner have taken prominent roles in Middle East diplomacy and efforts to end Russia's war in Ukraine, limiting Rubio's involvement in areas traditionally overseen by the secretary of state.
Any presidential campaign would also expose Rubio's own record to scrutiny. He has been closely involved in the administration's Latin America policies, including its relationship with interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez following Nicolas Maduro's removal and military strikes against boats allegedly carrying narcotics.
Vance, meanwhile, has publicly attributed the Republican defeat to Iran. "Any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there," he said after the election.
