Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has dismissed reports that he is considering leaving the Trump administration, saying he intends to remain in office until the end of President Donald Trump's second term.

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In an interview with The New York Times, Rubio rejected speculation that he might step down to prepare for a possible 2028 presidential bid.

“Working for President Trump for the duration of his second term has always been my plan,” Rubio said.

“I don't know where these things come from, to be honest with you,” he added, responding to reports about his possible departure.

The speculation gained traction following the Republican Party's setbacks in the November 3 midterm elections, which triggered discussions about the party's future leadership and potential contenders for the 2028 presidential race.

Reports of Rubio's possible exit denied

Bloomberg News reported on Thursday that Rubio was weighing whether to leave the administration. According to the report, he had discussed the possibility of stepping down with White House officials, who asked him to stay.

The State Department strongly rejected the reports. Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson described the Bloomberg report as “totally made up”.

Johnson also dismissed a report by The Independent suggesting that Rubio was preparing to launch a campaign for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, calling it “completely baseless fake news”.
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Rubio's 2028 prospects under scrutiny

Rubio, who also serves as Trump's National Security Adviser, is widely viewed as a potential Republican presidential contender in 2028. Vice President JD Vance is another prominent name being discussed as a possible successor to Trump.

Just days before the midterm elections, Rubio made an unusual appearance alongside Trump on the campaign trail, briefly addressing supporters at a rally.

Conservative donor Dan Eberhart suggested that the election results had changed the political prospects of potential Republican candidates.

“The midterms blew up Vance's [2028 prospects] and Rubio's stock is soaring,” Eberhart said.

Rubio has previously indicated that he would step aside if Vance decided to seek the Republican presidential nomination. However, he refused to discuss the next presidential race during his latest interview.
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Why Rubio may want to stay in the administration

Apart from his positions as Secretary of State and National Security Adviser, Rubio has a longstanding political interest in Cuba.

The son of Cuban immigrants, he has made opposition to Cuba's communist government a central theme of his political career. His foreign policy priorities, including his approach towards the Cuban regime, are also seen as reasons he may prefer to remain in the administration.

Rubio continues to work closely with Vice President JD Vance and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

Despite the speculation over his political future, Rubio has now publicly reiterated his intention to serve throughout Trump's second term, while declining to comment on his own presidential ambitions.