Rubio reportedly weighs quitting as secretary of state after midterm losses

Is one of Donald Trump's most prominent officials about to walk away? Reports out of Washington say Marco Rubio is thinking about it. The White House says no.

What happened?

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is considering resigning after the Republican Party's heavy defeat in the midterm elections for Congress, according to reports citing sources close to him. One account says he has already discussed leaving with White House representatives.

The midterms took place on 3 November, and Democrats made broad gains against Republicans. Rubio has led the State Department (the US foreign ministry) since January 2025, when the Senate confirmed him on the first full day of Trump's second term.

Why would he leave?

Two explanations are being reported. One says Rubio could step aside to prepare a run in the 2028 presidential election, according to anonymous sources in the US and the UK.

Another says he wants to distance himself from the war with Iran and put responsibility for it on Trump. That claim comes from a source in Rubio's circle.

None of this has been confirmed by Rubio himself, and the motives are the reporters' sources' account, not an official statement.

What does the White House say?

Both the White House and the State Department strongly deny the reports. In other words, officially, Rubio is staying put.

That leaves a classic Washington standoff: anonymous sources say one thing, official spokespeople say the opposite. Denials like this are common when personnel rumours surface, and they do not settle the question either way.

What's next?

For now, the only solid fact is that the secretary of state remains in office. Watch for any statement from Rubio himself, or for signs of a wider reshuffle after the election results.

If he did leave, it would be a major change at the top of US diplomacy, at a time when the war with Iran is still shaping foreign policy.