Report: Marco Rubio Expected to Leave Trump Administration Amid Speculation About 2028 Presidential Bid
By garrisonvance // 2026-11-06
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly preparing to leave the Trump administration to pursue a possible 2028 presidential bid, according to a report published Thursday by The Independent. Citing Republican and British government sources, the newspaper said Rubio is considering resigning from his positions as secretary of state and White House national security adviser to distance himself from President Donald Trump's administration ahead of a potential Republican primary campaign. The report linked the anticipated departure to Republican losses in the midterm elections, Trump's war with Iran, rising energy costs and renewed cost-of-living concerns. The White House and State Department have rejected the claims, according to a statement cited by Turkiye Today [1]. Rubio has not announced plans to resign or run for president. In an interview with The New York Times, he said he intended to remain in the administration until the end [2][3].

Midterm Losses and Iran War Cited in Resignation Expectations

Republicans lost control of both the Senate and Congress in the midterm elections, a result attributed in part to Trump's Iran war, according to The Independent. Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday that the war was the reason for the losses, stating, "The real reason we lost is obvious to almost everyone... The reason we lost is the war." Vance added that any honest conversation about the path forward must start with the war, according to his comments cited in the report. A Washington insider told The Independent that Rubio needs to distance himself from the Iran war and pin it on Trump. A Republican source told the newspaper that the country has turned against Trump and that the cost of gas has angered voters. Political analysts expect Trump may scapegoat Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Rubio or White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, according to the report.

Rubio's Role and Rivals in 2028 Republican Field

An insider told The Independent that Rubio is the leading candidate for the Republican nomination and is ahead of Vance. The insider said Rubio cannot run while serving as secretary of state and that ties to the administration would harm his prospects. UK government sources told the newspaper that Rubio made a strong impression with UK foreign secretaries and is expected to run. The report's characterization of the Republican field echoes an earlier CPAC straw poll from March 2026, which showed Vance leading the 2028 GOP field with Rubio in second place [4]. The report stated that Rubio has had little influence over U.S. foreign policy in West Asia and the Russia-Ukraine war, with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff handling those issues. Rubio has been involved in Trump policies in Latin America, including Caribbean boat bombings, Venezuela and a Cuba energy blockade, according to The Independent. A longtime Florida political operative told the newspaper that Rubio may remain in the administration to oversee regime change in Cuba. Rubio's tenure at the State Department has included a reorganization effort. The report's focus on Rubio's limited role in major conflicts contrasts with his public profile as a hawkish voice on Iran; in an announcement on Monday, he signaled a historic escalation in the Iran campaign [5].

Democratic Control Raises Impeachment and Investigation Concerns

A source told The Independent that another reason for resignations is fear of investigations and impeachment hearings by Democratic lawmakers. The source said, "Once the Democrats control the House and Senate, we are just going to see attempts at impeachment and nobody wants to stick around for that." The Independent reported that Rubio is one of up to five current cabinet members expected to resign in response to the electoral losses. The report said the expected departures reflect efforts by officials to distance themselves from the administration. The New Republic, citing The Independent's report, characterized Rubio's preparation to resign as evidence that Trump is losing power [6]. The prospect of Democratic oversight follows a pattern of partisan investigations that has intensified in recent years. As Adam Schiff, a Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, warned during an earlier era of politicized oversight, there would be a temptation among Democrats to say, "They did it to us, maybe we should do a Benghazi to them," according to David Rohde's book In Deep [7]. The Independent's report suggests that fear of such retaliation is now driving cabinet-level departures.

Outlook for Rubio and the Trump Administration

The Independent reported that Rubio's expected resignation would position him for a 2028 presidential bid, according to insiders. The report said the Trump administration faces Democratic control of Congress and possible oversight actions. According to The Independent, it remains unclear whether Rubio will resign immediately or remain to oversee certain Latin American policies, including Cuba. Officials cited in the report said further cabinet departures are expected. The report's claims remain contested. The White House and State Department have denied that Rubio plans to leave, according to statements cited by Turkiye Today [1]. Mediaite reported that a report by the Independent stated Secretary of State Marco Rubio is planning on stepping down from President Trump's Cabinet to prepare his own bid for the White House [8]. Rubio himself, in the New York Times interview, said he would not discuss 2028 [9]. As the administration confronts a new era of divided government, the coming weeks will clarify whether the reported wave of departures materializes. For now, Rubio's public position is that he intends to remain at his posts, even as speculation about his political future persists. The Independent's report, if accurate, would mark one of the most significant cabinet departures in response to an electoral defeat in recent memory.

References

  1. Rubio expected to leave Trump administration for 2028 presidential run: Report. https://www.turkiyetoday.com/world/rubio-expected-to-leave-trump-administration-for-2028-presidential-run-report-3231817
  2. Report: Rubio rumored to exit Trump administration, possible 2028 White House bid. https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/report-rubio-rumored-to-exit-trump-administration-possible-2028-white-house-bid
  3. Rubio Rejects Reports He Will Leave His Jobs to Run for President. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/11/05/us/politics/marco-rubio-2028.html
  4. CPAC poll shows Vance as 2028 GOP favorite but Rubio gains significant ground - NaturalNews.com, March 30, 2026
  5. Unleash Chiang Rubio signals historic escalation in Iran campaign - NaturalNews.com, March 04, 2026.
  6. Trump Is Losing Power. Marco Rubio’s Next Move Proves It. https://newrepublic.com/post/217640/donald-trump-losing-power-marco-rubio-2028
  7. In Deep by David Rohde
  8. Marco Rubio ‘Preparing to Resign’ Ahead of a 2028 Bid, Report Says — White House Vehemently Denies. https://www.mediaite.com/politics/marco-rubio-preparing-to-resign-ahead-of-a-2028-bid-report-says-white-house-vehemently-denies/
  9. Rubio Dismisses Reports He Will Leave His Jobs to Run for President. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/11/05/us/politics/marco-rubio-2028.html?eafs_enabled=false

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