Rubio Shuts Down Exit Rumors, Says He Won't Talk About 2028

Marco Rubio says he's staying put. The US Secretary of State shot down reports Thursday that he was plotting an exit from the Trump administration, telling The New York Times it has always been his plan to serve until Trump's term ends.

The denial followed a Bloomberg News report earlier Thursday that Rubio was weighing whether to leave, had spoken with White House officials about stepping down, and was asked to stay. Rubio brushed off the chatter: he doesn't know where these things come from, he told The Times.

The State Department came out swinging. Assistant Secretary of State for global public affairs Dylan Johnson called the Bloomberg article totally made up, and labeled a separate Independent report that Rubio was preparing a 2028 Republican presidential run completely baseless fake news.

The rumors landed just days after Tuesday's midterm elections, where Republicans took losses. Rubio, who doubles as Trump's national security adviser, is widely seen as a possible successor to Trump in 2028, and he made an unusual campaign-trail appearance alongside the president shortly before voters went to the polls, briefly taking the podium at a rally.

But Rubio isn't playing along. Asked about his political future Thursday, he said flatly that he literally will not talk about 2028 anymore. He has previously said he would back Vice President JD Vance if Vance ran for president, and Vance is also widely viewed as a likely 2028 contender.

For now, the answer from Rubio and his team is the same: no resignation, no campaign, no more 2028 talk.