Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be headlining the Federalist Society’s National Lawyers Convention next week, marking his first speech following the midterm elections.
The news came on Thursday as rumors of Rubio’s impending resignation began circulating in the wake of new reports from the Independent and Bloomberg, though Rubio promptly denied the reporting in an interview with the New York Times, saying it has “always been my plan” to finish his term.
“I don’t know where these things come from, to be honest with you,” he told the outlet.
“This is completely baseless fake news from made-up anonymous ‘sources,’” Dylan Johnson, the assistant secretary of state for global public affairs, posted on X in response to the Independent article. He made a similar statement regarding the Bloomberg story: “Fake news. Totally made up.”
Rubio is scheduled to deliver his speech at 5 p.m. on Nov. 15 at the three-day Federalist Society convention in Washington. Before taking the stage, the administration official will be introduced by his eldest daughter, Daniella, who is a student at the University of Virginia School of Law. The convention, including the main lecture, is already sold out.
Rubio’s appearance at the conservative legal event is notable, considering Democrats have been telling Republicans to “lawyer up” before both chambers of Congress turn blue next year.
The midterm election cycle will end with Democrats winning at least 54 seats in the Senate and 256 in the House. They will take control in January 2027, giving Republicans less than two months before they lose power.
WINNERS AND LOSERS OF THE 2026 ELECTIONS
Rubio’s speech will also come as speculation mounts as to whether he runs for the presidency in 2028. He has previously downplayed the prospect, saying he has no plans to seek the White House in two years, and told the New York Times on Thursday, “I literally will not talk about 2028 anymore.”
In addition to leading the State Department, Rubio is serving as the president’s national security adviser.