With the midterm elections out the way and Donald Trump’s time in office counting down, focus is inevitably turning towards the 2028 presidential race.
However one potential Republican candidate, secretary of state Marco Rubio, did not want to be drawn on whether he is weighing up a run at the White House when quizzed by reporters Monday.
While attending a G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Paris, Rubio was asked if he stood by his claim to NBC News in May that he would be the “first person to sign up and support” Vice President JD Vance should the latter choose to run for the presidency.
“I don’t know why you’re wasting your time talking about - I’m not going to talk about...” Rubio began.
As the reporter continued to ask their question, the secretary said: “I’m not gonna talk about 2028 any longer. I’m just not gonna talk about 2028 anymore.”
Trying a second time, the reporter continued: “But I’m just asking about a comment that you’ve made in the past”.
“And I’m just telling you that - Okay, here’s my answer, you ready?” Rubio responded. “I’m not gonna discuss 2028. I’m not gonna discuss it in any form or fashion, but thank you, but I’m not going to talk about it.”
The reporter persisted again, asking why Rubio would openly discuss the 2028 presidential election earlier this year but not talk about it now.
“Cause I have that choice. I can make it. There are things that - we’re not gonna talk about it anymore,” Rubio said. “I can make a choice, but I told you, I’m not gonna answer that question.”
“You can ask it eight different ways, and you’re not gonna get it.”
Speculation as to who will lead the Republican Party in 2028 has intensified after the midterms gave the Democratic Party control over both houses of Congress for the latter half of Trump’s second term in office.
While Rubio was reticent to talk about his future Monday, senior party sources in the United States, as well as figures in the British government, told The Independent the secretary of state may vacate his role in the Trump administration in the wake of the elections.
“It makes complete sense for him to step down and leave the administration,” an ally of Rubio said. “Rubio is the leading candidate at the moment to be the [Republican] nominee. He’s definitely ahead of Vance.
“But he cannot run while he is still secretary of state, and being tied to the administration will only harm his prospects anyway.”
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