Rubio Denies Reports He Is Considering Leaving Trump Administration After Midterms

Secretary of State and national security adviser Marco Rubio is denying reports published Thursday by the Independent and Bloomberg that he is weighing a departure from the Trump administration after the midterm elections, in which Democrats won control of Congress. The Independent, citing insiders in Washington and the British government, reported he was preparing to resign to lay groundwork for a possible 2028 presidential run. Bloomberg reported he had discussed stepping down with White House officials, who urged him to stay. The State Department and White House called the reports baseless. Dylan Johnson, assistant secretary of state for global public affairs, called them fake news built on anonymous sources and said Rubio has not discussed leaving. The New York Times reported Rubio said he intends to stay with the administration to the end. Rubio is scheduled to speak at 5 p.m. on Nov. 15 at the Federalist Society's National Lawyers Convention in Washington, his first speech since the midterms. The Washington Sun reported that Sergio Gor, ambassador to India, is emerging as a possible replacement. President Trump told reporters Wednesday that Vice President JD Vance might not run in 2028.

The Washington Examiner, the right-leaning outlet here, leads with Rubio's speech, noting that his daughter Daniella will introduce him and that the event is sold out, and it quotes Johnson's "fake news" denials to frame the rumors as unfounded. The New Republic leads with Trump's weakening position, describing a "bloodbath," an unpopular Iran war and a snub to Vance, while still noting the denials. The New York Times headline centers on Rubio's rejection. The Examiner omits the 2028 and Vance angle. The New Republic omits the speech. ZeroHedge, among the alternative outlets, adds Gor as a possible replacement and Bloomberg's detail that officials urged Rubio to stay, while The Hill stresses the denial.