The State Department is firing back at a report claiming Secretary of State Marco Rubio is preparing to abandon President Donald Trump’s administration to pursue a potential 2028 presidential campaign, dismissing the speculation as fabricated nonsense.
The controversy erupted Thursday after The Independent reported that Rubio could resign from his Cabinet position following Republicans’ bruising midterm election losses.
But administration officials wasted little time pushing back.
Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson blasted the report on X, directly challenging the newspaper’s reliance on unnamed sources.
“This is completely baseless fake news from made-up anonymous ‘sources,'” Johnson said.
The White House also rejected the report, making clear that there has been no announced change to Rubio’s position in the administration.
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The Independent cited Republican and British government sources who suggested Marco Rubio could leave his post to prepare for the 2028 presidential election.
According to the newspaper, speculation about Rubio’s political future intensified after Democrats captured control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s midterms.
One Rubio ally reportedly argued that departing the administration could help the secretary of state establish an independent political identity before the next presidential election.
The source also suggested Rubio would benefit from distancing himself from the ongoing war with Iran, which has become a major political challenge for the Trump administration.
However, the newspaper’s own reporting included conflicting accounts about Rubio’s intentions.
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One administration insider reportedly said Rubio had shown no indication that he wanted to resign, while another suggested he could remain in his position to provide continuity during a difficult political period.
Those competing accounts left the central allegation unconfirmed, even before the State Department issued its forceful denial.
The report also raised questions about a possible Republican presidential showdown between Rubio and Vice President JD Vance.
Both men have been discussed as potential successors to Trump, whose second presidential term ends in January 2029.
But Rubio has repeatedly declined to encourage speculation about his political future, instead emphasizing his responsibilities as the nation’s top diplomat.
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During a September interview with Colombian broadcaster RCN, Rubio said he had no immediate plans to seek the presidency and remained focused on his work.
Rubio currently serves as both secretary of state and national security adviser, placing him at the center of the administration’s foreign policy decisions.
Those responsibilities have included navigating tensions involving Iran, strengthening relationships with American allies and representing the United States in international negotiations.
The former Florida senator also previously challenged Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 before eventually endorsing him.
Since joining the administration, Rubio has emerged as one of Trump’s most prominent Cabinet officials.
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The speculation arrives as Republicans begin reassessing their political strategy following Tuesday’s congressional defeats.
Democrats’ victories have triggered discussions about the party’s future leadership, particularly as attention gradually shifts toward the 2028 presidential contest.
Vance remains a prominent figure in those conversations, although neither he nor Rubio has formally launched a presidential campaign.
For now, the State Department‘s response leaves little room for ambiguity about its position on the resignation story.
The administration has publicly rejected the claims, and Rubio has made no announcement suggesting he intends to leave his Cabinet position.
Despite the speculation surrounding his political future, Rubio remains secretary of state as the Trump administration prepares to navigate the final two years of the president’s second term.
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[ H/T Trending Politics ]
