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Marco Rubio sparked a wave of speculation this week regarding a possible Republican presidential candidacy in 2028, following a prominent press conference at the White House on Tuesday in place of spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, who is on maternity leave.
The Secretary of State responded smoothly and with touches of humor to questions about Iran, China, Venezuela, Cuba, and the Pope, in an address that conservative forums characterized as "clearly presidential material."
The hashtag #Rubio2028 became a trending topic on X, and Rubio shared a video this Wednesday of one of his responses, edited with music that evokes a political campaign advertisement.
In that excerpt, the Secretary of State expressed his vision for the country: "We want the United States to remain a place where anyone, regardless of their background, can achieve what they set out to do."
"A country without limitations imposed by circumstances of birth, skin color, or ethnic origin. A place where challenges can be overcome and maximum potential can be achieved," he stated.
The video was widely circulated by conservative figures, including Elon Musk, who campaigned in 2024 in support of President Donald Trump.
It was the second viral moment for Rubio in just a few days: over the weekend, he posted a video performing as a DJ at a wedding, and joked during the press conference that his followers "are not ready for my stage name as a DJ."
The White House also amplified its role by publishing a collage on Tuesday featuring a dozen television channels showcasing its intervention and the message, "the eyes of the world are on the White House press room."
This media push is happening at a time when Rubio is gaining ground against JD Vance in the race for the 2028 Republican nomination, a year when Trump will not be able to run for a third term due to constitutional restrictions.
According to a YouGov survey from April 2026, Vance leads with 63% against Rubio's 42%, although the Secretary of State has risen nine points since September 2025.
In the March 2026 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) poll, Rubio garnered 35%—a significant increase from the 3% the previous year—while Vance reached 53%.
The Republican donors are privately advancing Rubio's candidacy, and at a meeting in Mar-a-Lago on February 28, 2026, support among about 25 donors was described as "almost unanimous for Rubio" against Vance.
While Rubio was grabbing media attention in Washington, Vice President JD Vance was attending a fundraising event in Oklahoma for the Republican Party, aiming to strengthen his influence within the organization.
Both present very distinct profiles: Vance connects with the grassroots of the MAGA movement due to his humble origins in a community in Ohio affected by deindustrialization, while Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants who left the island before the Revolution, has built his career on his critiques of socialism and advocates for a more interventionist foreign policy against adversaries like Iran or China.
Trump has not formally endorsed either of the two, although sources from the White House see Rubio as a potential candidate and analysts indicate that he is being given an increasingly prominent role.
Rubio, 54, has publicly stated that he will not run in 2028 if Vance, whom he considers a friend, seeks the nomination, although in July 2025 he left the door ajar by saying, "You never know."
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