US midterm fallout: Trump’s India envoy Sergio Gor may replace Marco Rubio – report
As Washington prepares to recover from the less than ideal performance of the Republican party during the midterms, reports suggest a possible overhaul in senior leadership.US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor has emerged as a possible contender for senior positions in president Donald Trump’s administration following the recent setbacks in the midterm elections, with his name reportedly circulating for roles including White House chief of staff and secretary of state.Gor, a former senior White House aide and close Trump ally, has been discussed within the administration as a potential candidate for a bigger role during the second half of Trump’s term, according to a report by The Washington Sun, citing 10 people familiar with internal discussions. There is also growing speculation among State Department officials that Gor is interested in a promotion.Well-connected within the administration and known for his direct access to Trump, Gor has increasingly taken part in high-level diplomatic engagements, acquiring influence beyond his role as ambassador to India. He is also seen as an important link between Washington and several Asian countries, as well as a close confidant of secretary of state Marco Rubio.According to the report, Gor’s name has come up for several senior positions, including replacing Rubio as secretary of state or Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff. Some officials have also discussed the possibility of him taking over as deputy secretary of state from Chris Landau.Neither Rubio nor Wiles has indicated any intention of leaving their positions. However, speculation in Republican and State Department circles suggests Rubio could eventually leave the Cabinet to prepare for a potential presidential bid in 2028 or 2032. Wiles’ position, meanwhile, is also believed to be under scrutiny within Trump’s inner circle.Landau was also reportedly believed to be considering leaving after the midterms if Republicans lost control of Congress, anticipating potentially difficult congressional investigations. However, he subsequently denied having any plans to quit, telling The Sun that he had never indicated an intention to leave the State Department.Gor, however, dismissed the speculation, saying he had no interest in another position and had not discussed taking up a different role with anyone.Calling the report “complete and total b*******”, Gor praised Rubio as the most qualified and accomplished secretary of state, describing him as irreplaceable and a close friend. “I have zero interest in any other role,” he said.The State Department also rejected the claims. Assistant secretary for global public affairs Dylan Johnson said Rubio and Gor shared a strong professional relationship and personal friendship, dismissing the speculation as rumours based on anonymous sources. A White House official similarly described the report as fake, saying Gor had no interest in another position and believed Wiles and Rubio were doing a phenomenal job.Despite the denials, Gor’s growing diplomatic profile has drawn attention within the administration. A Trump adviser told The Sun that the president “loves the guy”, crediting Gor with bringing deals to Trump during his years outside office rather than seeking favours from him.Since taking charge of the US embassy in New Delhi in November 2025, Gor has helped facilitate several high-level visits to India, including those by Rubio, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and then-Army secretary Dan Driscoll. His responsibilities have also extended beyond India, with his dual role as ambassador and special envoy for South and Central Asia allowing him to participate in meetings with senior foreign officials, including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.Rubio has visited India twice this year, and the two have travelled together frequently since Gor’s appointment. They also appeared together in Atlanta at a G20 summit last week.Gor was also central to Rubio’s visit to Uzbekistan last month, part of the Trump administration’s efforts to deepen ties with resource-rich Central Asian countries. Born in Uzbekistan when it was part of the Soviet Union, Gor has used his background and regional connections in his additional role as special envoy for South and Central Asia.His approach to diplomacy is seen by some officials as closely aligned with Trump’s emphasis on dealmaking and promoting American business interests.Gor, who worked on Trump’s 2024 election campaign, has previously been linked to the business interests of the president’s family. His publishing company has published Trump’s books, and he is particularly close to Donald Trump Jr. Before leaving for India, Gor was sworn in as ambassador during an Oval Office ceremony at which Trump described him as a “great guy” and said he was “very proud” of him.His tenure in New Delhi has also attracted attention for his hands-on management style. According to two people familiar with the embassy’s operations, Gor has exercised an unusual degree of control over personnel decisions, including pushing out career State Department employees and locally hired staff.Rubio had earlier defended Gor’s appointment, telling The New York Times that his “access to the president” made him “an enormous asset” for both India and the State Department.However, whether Gor’s connections would translate into a Senate-confirmed Cabinet position remains uncertain. All Senate Democrats voted against his confirmation as ambassador as part of a larger package of nominees.Before joining the Trump administration, Gor spent roughly a decade working on Capitol Hill, primarily for Republican senator Rand Paul. At the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, he was responsible for identifying and vetting candidates for thousands of political appointments across the federal government.
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