Rubio denies plans to leave Trump administration

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio vehemently denied Thursday that he was plotting to abandon his role in the Trump administration amidst the party's electoral setbacks, according to The New York Times. He told The Times in an exclusive interview that his intention was to serve President Trump until the conclusion of his tenure. Rubio, who concurrently holds the position of National Security Adviser, is often viewed as a potential heir to Trump in the 2028 presidential election.

Just prior to the midterm elections on Tuesday, Rubio made a rare public appearance with the President at a rally, addressing the enthusiastic audience from the stage. When queried about his future political prospects on Thursday, Rubio firmly declined to comment, stating: "I literally will not talk about 2028 anymore." When asked about reports suggesting he was contemplating a departure from the administration, Rubio expressed bewilderment, saying, "I don't know where these things come from, to be honest with you."

Earlier on Thursday, Bloomberg News published a report indicating that Rubio was deliberating the possibility of leaving the administration and had reportedly spoken to White House officials about resigning. However, the State Department swiftly refuted these allegations, with Dylan Johnson, Assistant Secretary of State for global public affairs, labeling the Bloomberg article as "totally made up."

Similarly, The Independent reported that Rubio was contemplating a bid for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, which Johnson dismissed as "completely baseless fake news." Rubio has previously indicated his willingness to support Vice President JD Vance should he run for president, a stance Vance is also widely regarded as a potential candidate for the 2028 election.