Rubio may quit as secretary of state to prepare for 2028 election

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio may leave President Donald Trump's administration to focus on preparing for the 2028 presidential election. This is reported by the British publication The Independent, citing sources within the Republican Party.

Political consequences of the midterms

According to the publication's sources, Rubio is being considered a potential candidate for the Republican nomination. His main rival in the intra-party struggle is named as US Vice President JD Vance.

Expectations of a possible resignation by the diplomat grew after the midterm elections to Congress, where the Republican Party lost control of both chambers. According to sources, Rubio may use the political consequences of the party's defeat to distance himself from the Trump administration.

One of The Independent's interlocutors believes that the secretary of state needs to distance himself from the war in Iran and shift political responsibility for it to the US president.

Comments from allies and official reaction

«Цілком логічно, що йому варто піти у відставку та залишити адміністрацію» (It is entirely logical that he should resign and leave the administration), said a Rubio ally. According to him, holding the post of secretary of state would hinder a full-fledged presidential campaign, and the association with the incumbent administration could negatively affect the diplomat's political prospects.

However, not all sources are convinced that Rubio will leave his post in the near future. One US administration official noted that the secretary of state has not yet shown any intention to resign, although the situation may change after the elections.

Rubio himself previously stated that he currently does not plan to run for president and is fully focused on his work in the administration. He also suggested that he would not participate in the race if Vance became the Republican candidate.

The White House and the US Department of State rejected the information about a possible resignation. Donald Trump administration spokesperson Davis Ingle called The Independent's publication baseless conspiracy theories. Assistant to the Secretary of State Dylan Johnson also stated that the material is based on fabricated anonymous sources.