Rubio Seen Leaving Trump Team to Prep 2028 Run After GOP Midterm Collapse

Marco Rubio is being watched for a possible exit from President Donald Trump's administration as he eyes a 2028 presidential bid following the Republican loss in the 2026 midterm elections. The Independent, citing Republican and British government sources, says insiders view Rubio as a strong contender for the GOP nomination, with Vice President JD Vance positioned as his main rival. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle dismissed the report, calling it a baseless conspiracy theory and defending the president’s “America First” agenda with a sharp jab at the publication. The speculation intensifies after Democrats captured both chambers of Congress on November 3, a defeat attributed by Reuters to voter anger over the Iran war and rising living costs. Senior Republican and UK officials had already expected Rubio might depart, and the expectation grew after the election loss. A Rubio ally told the report that staying in the cabinet could tie him to Trump’s policies and hurt his presidential chances, while a senior UK source called him a strong candidate. Rubio, who also serves as acting national security adviser, has taken a low‑key role in the Iran conflict and has been sidelined on key diplomatic pushes such as West Asia policy and efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, where Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have been prominent. The midterm setback has raised questions about Trump’s 2028 successor, as Trump is constitutionally barred from another term. JD Vance blamed the Iran war for the loss, writing that “the reason we lost is the war,” while Trump admitted the conflict hurt the GOP but defended his decision. The Independent also named Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles as possible targets of blame within the administration, and noted that several cabinet members could consider leaving.## Context The story shows how a major electoral defeat can trigger reshuffling in a president’s inner circle, especially when future elections are on the horizon and key figures weigh their long‑term ambitions against current loyalties.