US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Weighs Resignation After Midterms

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio may step down from his position in President Donald Trump's administration following the Republican midterm election defeat, as he begins preparations for a potential presidential run in 2028, according to a report by the British newspaper "The Independent," citing sources within the Republican Party and the British government.

According to the report, even before the election results were finalized, senior officials in the US and the UK anticipated that Rubio might leave his high-profile post. The Republican defeat, which resulted in the party losing control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, has reinforced assessments that the Secretary of State will seek to distance himself from the administration to focus on his political future.

Vice President J.D. Vance also addressed the election outcome, attributing the loss to the conflict involving Iran. "The real reason for the loss is clear to almost everyone. The reason is the war. The president himself said so last night," Vance was quoted as saying.

"The Independent" noted that Rubio, despite being one of the key officials responsible for American foreign policy, has played a quieter role recently regarding the war in Iran. British government sources suggest he could be among several administration officials seeking to depart in the wake of the election results.

Rubio, who previously ran against Trump in the 2016 Republican primaries, subsequently became one of the president's closest allies. He currently serves concurrently as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, roles that grant him significant influence over US foreign policy.

However, the report indicates that in major areas such as the Middle East and efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, Rubio has been somewhat sidelined in favor of Trump's special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Rubio's potential presidential bid sets up a possible collision course with Vance, who is also considered a leading contender for the Republican leadership. Nonetheless, Rubio has previously stated he has no current plans to run for president and remains fully focused on his present duties, adding that he would step aside if Vance decides to enter the race.

Meanwhile, the White House and the State Department strongly rejected the report. A White House spokesperson dismissed it as "false and baseless conspiracy theories," while a State Department spokesperson labeled the publication "complete fake news" based on fabricated anonymous sources.