US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly considering leaving President Donald Trump’s administration following the Republicans’ losses in the 2026
midterm elections, with political insiders suggesting he could step down to prepare for a potential presidential campaign in 2028. According to an exclusive report by The Independent, senior Republican figures and UK government sources believe Rubio may distance himself from the administration as he considers a run for the Republican presidential nomination. Vice President JD Vance is seen as a potential rival in the contest. The midterm elections dealt a major setback to Trump, with Democrats taking control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The results have fuelled speculation about possible departures from the administration, with Rubio reportedly among several Cabinet members considering their political futures. One Washington insider told The Independent that Rubio would need to “distance himself from the Iran war and pin that one on Trump”. A source close to Rubio said stepping down would make political sense, arguing that remaining secretary of state could damage his presidential prospects by tying him more closely to the administration’s record. Vance has already publicly blamed the Iran war for the Republican defeat. Speaking after the election results, he said: “The real reason we lost is obvious to almost everyone … The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night.” He added: “Any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there.” However, reports of Rubio’s possible resignation remain unconfirmed. The Independent also quoted an administration insider who said the secretary of state had shown no indication that he wanted to leave his position. Rubio has previously played down speculation about a presidential campaign. In September, he said he had “no plans at this time” to run for the White House and was “100 per cent focused” on his responsibilities in the administration. He has also indicated that he would step aside if Vance decided to seek the Republican nomination. The White House rejected the report, with spokesperson Davis Ingle accusing The Independent of promoting “baseless, false conspiracy theories” about Trump and his administration. The State Department also dismissed the claims as “completely baseless fake news from made-up anonymous 'sources’”. Despite the denials, Rubio’s political future is expected to attract attention as Republicans assess the consequences of their midterm losses and the party begins looking towards the 2028 presidential election.
