U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday dismissed reports that he was considering leaving the Trump administration, as questions emerged about his future following Republican losses in the midterm elections.
“It has always been my plan” to serve under President Donald Trump until the end of his term, Rubio told The New York Times in an interview.
Rubio, who also serves as Trump’s national security adviser, is widely viewed as a potential contender to succeed Trump in the 2028 presidential election.
In an unusual move, Rubio appeared alongside Trump on the campaign trail just days before Tuesday’s midterm elections, briefly taking the stage to address a cheering crowd at a rally.
However, Rubio declined on Thursday to discuss his political ambitions, saying: “I literally will not talk about 2028 anymore.”
Asked about reports suggesting he was considering leaving the administration, Rubio told The New York Times: “I don’t know where these things come from, to be honest with you.”
Earlier Thursday, Bloomberg News reported that Rubio was weighing whether to step down. The report said he had discussed the possibility of leaving with White House officials but was asked to remain in his position.
The State Department strongly rejected the reports.
Dylan Johnson, Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs, described the Bloomberg report as “totally made up.”
Johnson also dismissed a report by The Independent claiming that Rubio was preparing to launch a campaign for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, calling it “completely baseless fake news.”
Rubio has previously said he would support Vice President JD Vance if he decided to run for president.
Vance, like Rubio, is widely considered a potential Republican candidate in the 2028 presidential race.
