Secretary of State Marco Rubio could leave President Donald Trump’s administration ahead of a possible 2028 presidential bid, according to a Thursday report based on unnamed sources. The White House and State Department rejected the claims, and Rubio has not announced plans to resign.
The November 5 report follows Republican losses in the November 3 midterm elections, when Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress. Vice President JD Vance has publicly blamed the war with Iran for the party’s defeat, as The Dallas Express previously reported.
Administration Denies Claims Of A Departure
Rubio is among several Cabinet officials whom unnamed Republican and British government sources expect to leave the administration, The Independent reported Thursday. The article, by David Maddox and Andrew Feinberg, said some sources believe Rubio would need to separate his political prospects from Trump’s handling of the Iran war.
One Rubio ally described him as ahead of Vance for the Republican nomination. That was the ally’s assessment, not a verified national polling result. The report also raised the possibility that four or five Cabinet officials could depart, but it identified no confirmed resignation plans or dates.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle described the report as “baseless, false conspiracy theories.” State Department Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson called it “completely baseless fake news from made-up anonymous ‘sources’.” The denials appeared in the original report.
The same article quoted an administration insider who had seen no sign Rubio intended to resign. Another source suggested the election results might encourage him to remain in office to project stability.
Rubio’s Previous Statements On 2028
Rubio addressed the possibility of another presidential campaign in a September 8 interview with Colombian broadcaster RCN, published September 9 in a State Department transcript.
“Well, I don’t know what the future holds, but I have no plans at this time. I’m 100% focused on my jobs,” Rubio said. He also said he was not then a candidate for any office.
Rubio challenged Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, then became an ally. After winning the 2024 election, Trump nominated him as secretary of state. Rubio entered office January 21, 2025, according to the State Department’s historical record. Trump subsequently made Rubio his national security adviser, a second position he currently holds.
Iran War Shapes The Early Republican Debate
Vance offered his explanation for the election results on November 4. “The reason we lost is the war,” he wrote on X, while also listing inflation, living costs, and U.S. relations with Israel among concerns reported by voters.
Rubio has not issued a comparable public statement attributing the midterm losses to the Iran war. He has, however, previously defended Trump’s actions toward Tehran, according to Reuters.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Rubio said in June 2025 that the United States was not involved in an Israeli attack on Iran and warned Tehran against targeting American personnel. The publication also covered his April 2026 decision to terminate the legal status of Iranian nationals the State Department accused of supporting Tehran’s government.
What Comes Next
Neither Rubio nor Vance has announced a presidential campaign. Other Republicans discussed as potential 2028 contenders include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), according to November 5 Reuters coverage.
If Rubio leaves the State Department, Trump would need to choose a successor, subject to Senate confirmation for a permanent appointment. For now, Rubio remains in office, and no departure timetable has been established as of time of publication.
Provided by Dallas Express
