Rubio denies plans to leave post, Trump defends Hegseth

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has refuted rumors suggesting his intention to depart the Trump administration, while President Trump dismissed inquiries regarding potential dismissal of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following recent Republican electoral setbacks. According to The New York Times, Rubio affirmed in an interview that his plan had always been to serve under Trump until the conclusion of his term.

Rubio, who also functions as Trump's national security adviser, remains a leading contender for the 2028 presidential race. However, he refrained from commenting on his political future, stating, "I literally will not talk about 2028 anymore." In response to allegations of his potential exit, Rubio expressed uncertainty about the origin of such speculations.

Earlier, Bloomberg News reported that Rubio was contemplating his departure, which the State Department vehemently denied as "totally made up." Additionally, The Independent's claim that Rubio intended to seek the 2028 Republican nomination was dismissed as "completely baseless fake news." Rubio has previously stated his support for Vice President JD Vance if he decides to run for president.

Hegsett, in a video message, vowed to resist impeachment efforts in Congress and defended the Iran war as "courageous and historic," despite Republican losses in the midterms attributed to the conflict. Trump commended Hegseth, emphasizing his success in military operations in Venezuela and Iran. The impeachment debate intensified, with top Democrats questioning Hegseth's role and promising investigations into his conduct.

Republican Representative Thomas Massie threatened to reintroduce impeachment articles, predicting a gentler process once Democrats assume control of Congress. Trump defended Hegseth's performance, attributing opposition to his firing of military leaders and alignment with woke values.