Secretary of State Marco Rubio has explicitly stated he is not planning a presidential run in 2028, despite being widely mentioned as a potential heir to President Trump's political legacy. In an interview with Colombian news outlet RCN, translated by NBC News, Rubio said, "I don't know what the future holds, but I have no plans at this time. I'm not a candidate for anything right now. And I'm 100 percent focused on my job, and I have to be because I have two jobs."
His comments align with signals from those close to him. A person familiar with his thinking told NBC News that Rubio "loves being secretary of state and is really enjoying the job," and that he has no intention of entering the 2028 race. The same source added, "If you asked him if he's interested in 2032 or 2036, he would probably say sure," suggesting that while 2028 is off the table, a future bid is not entirely out of the question.
Rubio's name has been floated alongside Vice President Vance as a potential torchbearer of Trump's agenda after the president's term ends in 2029. The two have spoken publicly about their friendship and collaboration within the administration. According to The Hill's ranking of possible GOP contenders, Vance is seen as the top heir apparent, with Rubio in second place. Neither has officially declared a run, but both consistently top polls of likely Republican voters.
An Emerson College and The Hill survey released last month showed Rubio outperforming Vance in hypothetical matchups against several Democratic candidates. Notably, both Republicans trailed former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg by five points in those head-to-head scenarios.
Rubio's political ambitions are not new. He first ran for president in the 2016 Republican primaries, positioning himself as a next-generation candidate with a strong emphasis on foreign policy. He was a vocal critic of the Iran nuclear deal, urging the U.S. to withdraw from it—a move that ultimately occurred in 2018 during Trump's first term.
After losing the Florida primary to Trump in 2016, Rubio suspended his campaign and eventually endorsed Trump. He remained in the Senate until Trump, after winning a second term in 2024, tapped him to lead the State Department. Since then, Rubio has been deeply engaged in international affairs, including outlining a cooperative drug war strategy and warning of potential military action against cartels. In a related statement, he emphasized that the U.S. would work with allies but would not rule out sinking ships involved in drug trafficking.
As the 2028 election cycle approaches, political observers will be watching whether Rubio's stance shifts, especially given his strong poll numbers and the possibility of a future run. For now, his focus remains on his duties as secretary of state, a role he has said he is fully committed to.
