Secretary of State Marco Rubio—considered one of Israel’s most loyal and vocal Republican supporters—told associates in private conversations that he doesn’t plan to run for president in 2028, NBC News reported.
Rubio’s apparent refrainment from running could clear the path for Vice President JD Vance to lead the Republican Party—a scenario that raises questions about the future of Washington-Jerusalem relations, given Vance’s positions on the Middle East.
During the recent diplomatic summit in Switzerland, Vance delivered a series of statements that raised eyebrows in Jerusalem. Among other things, he chose to describe representatives of Iran’s ayatollah regime as “distinguished leaders,” and drew an outrageous comparison between Israel’s legitimate right to defend its citizens and Iran’s “right” to possess ballistic missiles for deterrence purposes.
Vance also sharply attacked his critics on the Israeli right and in the media—particularly “Patriots” host Yinon Magal—accusing them of blindness and adopting Iranian propaganda. While Vance tried to sell the public on achievements in negotiations with Tehran and continued to display puzzling optimism about IAEA oversight, Rubio represented the complete opposite approach.
Just recently, responding to British sanctions against Israel, the Secretary of State made clear that the U.S. “will not follow suit” and won’t support these dangerous measures.
Rubio’s possible refrainment from the 2028 race hasn’t been confirmed with an official response yet, but it sketches a troubling angle regarding potential shifts in Washington’s power dynamics—and regarding a future leader who may not place Israel’s security at the top of his priorities.