The key facts

  • The Independent reported a 'resignation watch' around Rubio and the possible departure of up to five agency heads
  • The White House and the State Department rejected the report as 'baseless, false conspiracy theories'
  • Rubio, in an interview with the NYT, denied plans to resign: 'the plan has always been to serve Trump until the end of his term'

The resignation report and its sources

The British newspaper The Independent reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in a state of 'resignation watch' — anticipation of a resignation — after the Republicans' defeat in the midterm elections. According to the outlet, his allies consider leaving the administration in order to prepare for the 2028 presidential campaign. One of Rubio's confidants told the newspaper that resigning 'makes complete sense,' since the secretary of state cannot run an effective nationwide campaign while remaining in office. The report was also covered by the Turkish agency Anadolu and the Russian outlets Gazeta.Ru and Life.ru.

What may be behind the possible departure, according to sources

Insiders cited by The Independent claim that Rubio seeks to separate his political brand from the war with Iran, leaving 'ownership' of the war to President Donald Trump: despite his formal authority in foreign policy, he kept a 'quieter role' in military operations. Gazeta.Ru notes that distancing himself from the administration's policies, including the operation against Iran, could improve Rubio's chances in the contest for the Republican nomination against Vice President JD Vance. In addition, according to Republican sources cited by The Independent, up to five cabinet members are preparing to leave before the new Congress convenes in January, where the majority, based on the results of the November 3 elections, will be held by the Democrats — in order to avoid committee investigations and possible impeachments.

Denials from the White House and from Rubio himself

The administration quickly rejected the report. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle called the claims 'baseless, false conspiracy theories', emphasizing that Trump 'has assembled a unified team focused on the America First agenda.' Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson also called the piece 'completely baseless fake news from made-up anonymous sources.' Later, Rubio himself, in an interview with The New York Times, denied reports of a possible resignation: according to him, 'the plan has always been to serve President Trump until the end of his term'; he loves his job and does not know where the media got the information about plans to leave. 'I always laugh when someone says I'm going to leave my post. I ask in response: as quoted by Gazeta.Ru.

Context and what remains unclear

Thus, at this point there is only The Independent's report citing anonymous sources and its categorical denial, both by the administration and by the secretary of state himself. Life.ru adds that Western media previously wrote about discussions in Trump's circle of replacing Rubio with US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor; the diplomat himself said at the time that he was not seeking the post, and the State Department called the reports of the reshuffle a fabrication. Separately, the outlet recalls that Trump earlier declined to promise his support to Vance in the presidential election — which is precisely what keeps the question of the Republican nomination lineup for 2028 open. Real personnel decisions, if any follow, will become clear no earlier than January, when the new Congress with a Democratic majority begins its work.