From The Independent · · 3m
Rubio on resignation watch after Trump midterm disaster
US secretary of state Marco Rubio is expected to quit the Trump administration to run for president in 2028, sources tell The Independent.
In brief
US secretary of state Marco Rubio is expected to quit the Trump administration to run for president in 2028, sources tell The Independent. Senior US and UK sources expect secretary of state Marco Rubio to resign from Trump's administration to pursue the Republican presidential nomination in 2028. Originally reported…
Rubio expected to quit for 2028 race
Marco Rubio, US secretary of state and national security adviser, is on resignation watch. Senior sources expect him to leave the Trump administration to run for Republican nominee in November 2028.
Vance is Rubio's main rival
Vice President J. D. Vance is currently Rubio's main rival for the Republican nomination. Insiders say Rubio is the leading candidate at the moment to be the nominee.
“Rubio is the leading candidate at the moment to be the [Republican] nominee. He's definitely ahead of Vance.”
Midterms triggered resignation speculation
Even before the disastrous midterm results, senior party sources in the US and UK government told The Independent that Rubio could quit. Republicans lost both the House and the Senate.
Democrats seized Republican strongholds
The midterms gave a damning indictment of the Trump presidency. Democrats seized Republican strongholds such as Kansas and Texas, prompting expectations Rubio would leave.
Up to five cabinet members may quit
Rubio is one of up to five members of Trump's current cabinet thought to be preparing to leave the administration in the aftermath of the midterms humiliation.
Rubio needs to distance from Iran war
One Washington insider told The Independent that Rubio needs to distance himself from the Iran war and pin that one on Trump to improve his presidential prospects.
“Rubio needs to "distance himself from the Iran war and pin that one on Trump."”
Vance blamed Iran war for losses
Vice President Vance came out quickly after the disastrous results, blaming the war in Iran to distance himself from it. Trump could pin blame on defense secretary Pete Hegseth.
“The real reason we lost is obvious to almost everyone … The reason we lost is the war.”
UK government impressed by Rubio
Rubio has made a strong impression with all three UK foreign secretaries he has worked with, including David Lammy, Yvette Cooper and Ed Miliband. Yvette Cooper regards him as brilliantly intelligent.
UK expects him to run for president
A senior UK government source told The Independent it seems unlikely Rubio will stick around after the midterms. He would make a strong presidential candidate and they expect him to run.
“We are looking to see what he will do after the midterms. It seems unlikely that he will stick around.”
Rubio sidelined on key foreign policy
Despite his authority over America's foreign policy, Rubio has been sidelined on Middle East policy and Ukraine. Trump's amateur envoys Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner have taken those roles instead.
Rubio previously denied presidential plans
In September, Rubio told reporters he had no plans at this time for a White House bid and remained one hundred percent focused on his roles in the administration.
“no plans at this time”
White House denies resignation reports
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle accused The Independent of pushing baseless conspiracy theories. The state department called the reporting completely baseless fake news from made-up anonymous sources.
“completely baseless fake news from made-up anonymous 'sources'”
The bottom line
Senior US and UK sources expect secretary of state Marco Rubio to resign from Trump's administration to pursue the Republican presidential nomination in 2028.
