A recent all-star week for Secretary of State Marco Rubio is fueling fresh chatter about a 2028 presidential bid. But insiders in the orbit of President Donald Trump aren’t jumping on the bandwagon just yet.Rubio’s May 5 appearance in the White House briefing room ignited a wave of praise across conservative media and Trumpworld. Rubio, 54, made his debut as a stand-in for White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who was on maternity leave. Rubio made history as the first sitting secretary of state to conduct a White House press briefing.Rubio, at the White House podium, addressed a range of national security issues, such as the Iranian blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, which he condemned as “illegal” and “unacceptable.” He also jokingly cited the “chaotic” atmosphere of the briefing room. At one point, he responded to a reporter, “You can ask me two questions, I’ll give you one answer, and I’ll pick the one I like better.”
The Miami-born Rubio, whose parents are from Cuba, also won praise in some quarters for seamlessly switching to Spanish when asked a question in that language.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio walks out to speak to reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
