Secretary of State Marco Rubio could leave President Donald Trump’s administration ahead of a potential 2028 presidential bid, The Independent reported Thursday, drawing sharp denials from the White House and State Department.
The newspaper cited Republican and British government sources who expected a possible departure. Those expectations grew after the GOP’s midterm losses, according to the report.
But the speculation came with pushback, including from inside the administration.
One administration insider told the newspaper Rubio had shown no signs of wanting to leave. Another source suggested he could stay to help provide stability.
The White House rejected the reporting as baseless, while the State Department disputed the anonymous sourcing.
A Rubio ally argued that leaving would help him establish a separate political identity and distance himself from the Iran war. The ally also claimed he was ahead of Vice President JD Vance, an assessment the report did not establish with polling.
Rubio previously played down a presidential bid and indicated he would defer to Vance if the vice president runs.
