US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has poured cold water on speculation that he is gearing up for a presidential bid in 2028, instead throwing his support behind Vice President JD Vance as a potential Republican nominee.
Speaking during an interview on Fox News’ My View with Lara Trump, Rubio, a former 2016 presidential contender, praised Vance’s performance in office and expressed hope that the vice president will enter the 2028 race.
“Well, I think JD Vance would be a great nominee, if he decides he wants to do that,” Rubio said. “I think he’s doing a great job as Vice President. He’s a close friend and I hope he intends to do it.”
Rubio, who was long considered a top pick in the running to be Donald Trump’s running mate in 2024, ultimately lost out to Vance. Since then, he has taken on a demanding role within the Trump administration as Secretary of State, one which he described as all-consuming.
While he did not shut the door entirely on a 2028 run, Rubio stressed that he remains committed to his current position and is constrained by regulations that prevent him from engaging in domestic politics.
“It’s kind of early, you know, but being in the role that I’m in here at the Secretary of State, I really don’t play in politics,” he explained. “There’s actually rules against me being involved in domestic politics.”
“I want to do this job as long as the president allows me to do it, which would keep me here all the way through January of 2028. You never know what the future holds. You never rule things out,” he added.
Rubio speaks about Vance
Rubio also called Vance “one of my closest friends in politics,” a sentiment echoed in light-hearted comments made by the vice president, who once joked about the multiple responsibilities Rubio has taken on under Trump.
“I think he could take on a bit more. If only there was a job opening for a devout Catholic…” Vance quipped last month, following the death of Pope Francis.
Rubio’s workload has included overseeing the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), stepping into the role of de facto national security adviser, and even serving briefly as acting Archivist. The Secretary of State’s remit under Trump has far exceeded its traditional boundaries, reflecting the administration’s trust in Rubio.
The 2028 election is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in American politics, the first open race since 2016 on both the Democratic and Republican sides. With Donald Trump unlikely to run again, the Republican Party will face a new test in selecting its next standard-bearer.
Reflecting on his own 2016 campaign against Trump, Rubio recalled their heated rivalry. “We happened to be competing for the same thing. So in any competition, especially as you get down and it narrows to three or four people, punches are going to be thrown,” he said. Trump had famously dubbed him “Little Marco” during the primaries.
“But then that ends, and then we’re on the same team because he’s the Republican nominee and I’m a Republican,” Rubio added, praising Trump’s “incredible instincts for human behaviour” and contrasting the fast-paced energy of the administration with the slower workings of the US Senate.
“It’s incredibly rewarding,” he said. “There is no point in being in this business and in this line of work if you can’t get things done. So that makes it a lot of fun.”
