Rubio defends Iran war's political cost, says serving out Trump's term was 'always' his plan

Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended President Trump's war with Iran despite acknowledging its political costs and its impact on gas prices, and said serving until the end of Trump's term has "always been my plan." He refused to discuss a possible 2028 presidential bid.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday defended President Donald Trump's war with Iran, acknowledging its political cost after Republicans' heavy midterm losses but arguing that the president deserves credit for acting anyway. "Higher prices at the gas pump, I acknowledge, is not like the kind of thing you campaign on and brag about," Rubio said, according to The New York Times.

Rubio said Trump "deserves a tremendous amount of credit" for taking action despite its unpopularity, arguing that leadership sometimes requires doing things that are not "politically popular or expedient" but are necessary for the country's long-term future.

Official portrait of Secretary of State Marco Rubio

"Always been my plan"

Rubio also pushed back on reports that he was weighing leaving the administration. He said serving until the end of Trump's term has "always been my plan," adding: "I love the work I'm doing." Asked about a possible 2028 presidential campaign, he said: "I literally will not talk about 2028 anymore." The State Department and the White House had earlier dismissed the reports as baseless.

The war at the center of the midterm debate

The war with Iran, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, has become a central issue after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress on Tuesday. Voters surveyed this week often cited the conflict and rising fuel and grocery prices as reasons for backing Democrats, and some Republicans have blamed the administration's handling of the war for the party's losses.

Trump has said he will decide "soon" whether to resume major strikes on Iran, weighing renewed attacks, continued economic pressure or a diplomatic deal, with Qatar acting as a mediator. Rubio has been one of the administration's most prominent defenders of the campaign.

Photos: U.S. Department of State, White House / Wikimedia Commons

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