Secretary of State Visits Vatican

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Pope Leo XIV on Thursday at the Vatican, the highest-ranking U.S. official to do so since the pope became a target of criticism from the Trump administration. The trip aims to smooth over tensions that have not played well with the American public, according to one report.

Rubio's visit occurs against the backdrop of the administration's feud with the Holy See. Rubio stood in for the White House spokesperson at Tuesday's press briefing, delivering a nearly hour-long performance that drew positive reviews on the political right.

During the session he fielded questions on the war with Iran, rising gas prices and other topics while shifting between English and Spanish and incorporating humor. The appearance led to online chatter about Rubio's prospects as a potential 2028 presidential candidate.

Social media users noted his calm demeanor and suggested he might be positioning himself apart from Vice President JD Vance, who is also seen as a possible successor to President Donald Trump.

Rubio has taken on multiple roles in the administration over the past year, including acting national security adviser, acting archivist of the U.S. and acting director of the U.S. Agency for International Development. A former Trump critic, he has built a reputation for versatility.

On Wednesday he posted a video clip from his official State Department account featuring images of himself, Trump and former President Ronald Reagan. The clip used audio from Rubio's Tuesday response to a question about his hope for America. >"My hope for America is what it's always been.

I think it's the hope I hope we all share. We want it to continue to be the place where anyone from anywhere can achieve anything. Where you're not limited by the circumstances of your birth, by the color of your skin, by your ethnicity. " — Secretary of State, May 2026 (CNBC) The White House shared its own video of the same remarks.

One commentator wrote on X that Rubio appeared eager for higher office while noting Vance's unpopularity.

2028 Speculation Involves Multiple Figures Reports indicate both Rubio and Vance are viewed as frontrunners to succeed Trump in 2028. One outlet reported that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis may also be considering a White House bid. Vance made his first trip to Iowa, an early caucus state, where he defended the administration's handling of the economy with an eye toward his own future ambitions.

Rubio, who represented Florida in the Senate from 2011 to 2025 and ran for the GOP nomination in 2016, has seen his popularity rise lately. The secretary of state recently DJed at a family wedding, a moment captured on video. When asked at the briefing for his DJ name, he replied that reporters were not ready for it.

The meeting takes place as President Donald Trump's approval rating has declined amid an ongoing war with Iran that has driven gas prices higher. Rubio helped clarify the administration's messaging on the conflict during the briefing, at one point quoting 1990s rap lyrics to describe Iranian leaders.

One report described the briefing as a star turn that fueled 2028 election talk. Rubio has filled in for the spokesperson, who is on maternity leave, as part of a rotating group of officials. The tensions with Pope Leo XIV stem from a White House squabble that has drawn public disapproval.

Rubio's Roman visit is characterized as a high-stakes effort to address the dispute. Politico reported that Vance's 2028 hopes could face challenges related to the administration's economic record as perceived in early primary states.