US Secretary of State Marco Rubio may resign following the Republican Party’s defeat in the mid-term congressional elections in order to begin preparations for the 2028 presidential campaign. According to the British newspaper The Independent, American and British political sources expect the diplomat to attempt to distance himself from Donald Trump and his foreign policy decisions. Vice-President J.D. Vance is cited as one of Rubio’s potential rivals for the Republican presidential nomination.
- The Independent reported on Rubio’s possible resignation ahead of the 2028 presidential campaign.
- Sources expect him to distance himself from Trump following the Republicans’ defeat in the election.
- Incumbent Vice-President J.D. Vance is mentioned as one of Rubio’s potential rivals.
- The White House and the US State Department have categorically denied reports of the resignation.
Rubio may step down following the Republicans’ defeat
According to the publication, the possibility of resignation Marco Rubio had been discussed in political circles in Washington and London even before the mid-term elections on 3 November.
Following the Republicans’ loss of control of both houses of Congress, expectations of possible personnel changes within the administration Trump have intensified.
One of The Independent’s high-ranking sources within the British Government stated that he does not expect Rubio to remain in office for long after the election. In his view, the Secretary of State may be considering standing in the next presidential campaign.
Another source within the Republican Party has suggested that several more senior officials may leave the administration. The reason cited is not only the outcome of the vote, but also the prospect of increased parliamentary scrutiny from the Democrats.
At the same time, no official decision regarding Rubio’s resignation has yet been announced.
Rubio wants to distance himself from a war with Iran — sources
Those interviewed by the publication cite one of the reasons for a possible change in Rubio’s political strategy as a war between the US and Iran.
According to them, the Secretary of State may attempt to distance his own political reputation from the Trump administration’s decisions, which have caused discontent amongst some American voters.
A source in Washington claims that, with a view to a future presidential campaign, it would be in Rubio’s best interests to leave the government and establish an independent political stance.
The Independent also points out that, of late, the Secretary of State has played a less prominent role in certain key foreign policy issues than one might expect of the head of US diplomacy.
In particular, the President’s special envoy played a significant role in the negotiations aimed at bringing the Russian-Ukrainian war to an end Steve Witkoff і Jared Kushner.
However, the claim that Rubio intends to distance himself from Trump is based on the assessments of anonymous sources, rather than on a public statement by the Secretary of State himself.
J.D. Vance could be Rubio’s rival in the 2028 election
Should he decide to stand for election, Rubio will have to fight for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination.
One of the potential contenders in this race is the current US Vice-President JD Vance.
Both politicians have extensive experience in federal government and have close ties to the current administration. At the same time, their potential presidential campaigns may be based on different political approaches.
Rubio had already taken part in the 2016 Republican presidential primaries. At the time, he was one of Donald Trump’s rivals, but later became his political ally.
A return to the race for the White House will require the Secretary of State to put together a separate campaign team, secure funding and take part in the party primaries.
At present, neither Rubio nor Vance has officially announced their candidacy for the 2028 election.
The White House and the State Department have denied reports of a resignation
Donald Trump’s administration reacted sharply to the article published in *The Independent*.
White House Spokesperson Davis Ingle He dismissed the reports of a possible resignation as unfounded speculation and stated that the President’s team continues to work together.
The US State Department also dismissed the publication’s report. Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson described the report as inaccurate and cast doubt on the information provided by anonymous sources.
At the same time, one of The Independent’s sources, who is familiar with the situation within the administration, said he had seen no signs that Rubio was being prepared for dismissal.
The Secretary of State himself stated back in September that he had no plans to stand for president and was fully focused on carrying out his current duties.
Consequently, Rubio’s possible departure from the administration remains, for the time being, the subject of media reports and political speculation, rather than a confirmed personnel decision.
