Politics

Rubio Joins Trump on Midterm Campaign Trail to Showcase Venezuelan Oil

By AFP

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared with President Donald Trump on the campaign trail on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at a rally in Corpus Christi, Texas. The pair visited an oil tanker carrying one million barrels of Venezuelan crude, a move that coincided with the final days before the November 3 midterm elections.

Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance are seen as leading contenders to guide the Republican Party into the 2028 election after Trump’s era. While Vance has been touring the country in recent weeks, Rubio’s appearance on the trail is unusual for the top U.S. diplomat.

At the rally, Trump called Rubio on stage, saying, “He’s so popular,” and invited him to the podium as the crowd chanted his name. A State Department official, speaking anonymously, said Rubio was traveling with Trump in his capacity as National Security Advisor, a dual role first held by Henry Kissinger. The official added that the travel gave Rubio a chance to discuss various issues with the president, though the topics were not specified.

Rubio, who ran for president in 2016, has not yet announced whether he will seek the 2028 nomination. Trump remains a dominant figure in the party and has not endorsed a successor.

Rubio has largely avoided the campaign trail, focusing instead on international trips, including visits to Uzbekistan and India last week. He is scheduled to host a G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Atlanta on Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31.

The showcase of Venezuelan oil comes amid concerns about rising gasoline and other consumer costs. Trump said the crude would be processed at Texas refineries. U.S.–Caracas relations have improved since the U.S. military operation that toppled Nicolás Maduro in January, with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez now in power and reportedly complying with Trump’s demands for the Venezuelan energy sector to open to American companies.

Trump hopes the supply from Venezuela will appeal to voters by promising lower gasoline and diesel prices. Global oil prices have risen since U.S.‑Israel strikes on Iran in late February triggered Tehran’s retaliation, blocking a key energy transit route in the Strait of Hormuz. The higher prices have increased transportation costs for businesses and raised consumer prices.

Republicans fear that inflation concerns, heightened by Trump’s stance on Iran, could lead to a Democratic surge in the midterms. Trump has been holding rallies across the country in the past month, including a third visit to Texas, reflecting Republican worries about a close Senate race in the state.

Published – October 28, 2026 07:49 am IST