Rubio Does Not Plan to Run for U.S. President If Vance Becomes a Candidate — AP
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not run in the 2028 presidential election as the Republican nominee if Vice President J.D. Vance decides to run.
According to the agency, Rubio has repeatedly told his advisers and aides that he is prepared to step aside for Vance should he enter the presidential race.
At the same time, Marco Rubio has significantly increased his influence within the Donald Trump administration in recent months. Serving as Secretary of State and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, he has appointed his allies to a number of key positions on the White House National Security Council.
According to the AP, Marco Rubio and J.D. Vance have differing views on the implementation of President Donald Trump’s foreign policy and defense agenda.
In particular, Vance has repeatedly criticized Israel for its actions in Lebanon, while Rubio continues to support Tel Aviv or refrains from commenting on the situation.
It is also reported that Rubio was skeptical about the prospects of reaching an agreement with Tehran and in April declined to lead the U.S. delegation in the negotiations.
Vance, on the other hand, saw this as an opportunity to strengthen his own foreign policy standing. According to the agency, he twice asked Trump to entrust him with leading the mission, and the president eventually agreed.
U.S. State Department Press Secretary Tommy Pigott assured that “Rubio and the entire administration are 100% in full agreement with President Trump.”
At the same time, diplomat Ian Kelly believes that both Rubio and Vance have presidential ambitions and could be considered potential successors to Trump. However, in his view, an unsuccessful outcome of the negotiations with Iran could negatively impact Vance’s chances of securing the presidential nomination.
In addition, the AP notes that the political approaches of the two high-ranking officials differ significantly. Rubio draws on Ronald Reagan’s foreign policy doctrine, which emphasizes support for the “free world,” while Vance advocates a more pragmatic approach and criticizes what he calls a focus on “abstractions.”
According to the agency, Rubio is also actively strengthening his position within the National Security Council by appointing his allies to key positions. Among the latest personnel decisions are Mike Nitham, who became deputy national security adviser, and Jeremy Lewin, who was appointed deputy secretary for the Western Hemisphere.
This was reported by the Associated Press.
Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced harsh criticism from representatives of both major parties in Congress over the White House’s stance on energy restrictions against Moscow.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio caught the attention of social media users with his oversized shoes during a visit to the White House for the UFC Freedom 250 mixed martial arts tournament.
