Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined repeated questions from reporters on Monday about whether he is considering a run for president in 2028, stating that the topic was a waste of time and that he would not discuss it further.
In a separate development, former President Donald Trump suggested in a post-midterm interview that he may not endorse a Republican candidate in the 2028 primary, signaling a potential hands-off approach to the party’s next presidential nominee.
Rubio’s refusal to engage
During a G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Paris, Rubio was asked by a reporter if he stood by his May statement to NBC News that he would "be the first person to sign up and support" Vice President JD Vance should Vance choose to run. Rubio responded sharply, saying, "I’m not going to talk about 2028 any longer. I’m just not going to talk about 2028 anymore." When the reporter persisted, Rubio added, "I’m not gonna discuss 2028. I’m not gonna discuss it in any form or fashion... You can ask it eight different ways, and you’re not gonna get it." He later reiterated, "Cause I have that choice. I can make it... I’m not going to answer that question."
Trump’s potential non-endorsement in 2028
In a post-midterm election interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes, Trump said he may not involve himself in the 2028 Republican primary, stating, "Probably, not necessarily... Maybe I’m better off not getting involved." He had previously emphasized the GOP’s "great bench" of potential candidates, including Vance, Sen. Ted Cruz, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, but did not commit to backing any specific contender. Trump added, "I think we have an unbelievable bench of talent... We have a great group of talented people that I think would do a very good job."
GOP field takes shape
Early jockeying among potential 2028 candidates began immediately after the midterm elections, with post-mortems from Vance, Cruz, and DeSantis drawing significant attention. Republican strategist Nicole Schlinger told Fox News Digital that the party would see a "robust field of candidates" testing their messages in early primary states like Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Schlinger added, "We’re going to get an opportunity to see which approach to our message... is going to resonate the most with the grassroots voters."
Rubio, who has not publicly addressed his 2028 intentions beyond his past comments about Vance, joins a growing list of Republicans who may or may not enter the race. His refusal to engage on the topic contrasts with his earlier openness to supporting Vance, leaving observers to speculate about his future plans.
Trump’s ambivalence about endorsing a successor adds another layer of uncertainty to the 2028 landscape, as the party navigates a post-Trump era without a clear frontrunner.