U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor has emerged as a possible contender for senior positions in President Donald Trump’s administration following the Republican Party’s poor performance in the November 3 midterm elections, according to a report by The Washington Sun.
Gor, a close Trump ally and former senior White House aide, has been discussed internally as a potential candidate for White House chief of staff or secretary of state, replacing Marco Rubio, the newspaper reported on Nov. 4, citing 10 people familiar with internal discussions.
However, Gor has strongly denied seeking a promotion, calling the report false and reaffirming his support for Rubio. This story is complete and total bullshit,” Gor told The Washington Sun.
READ: Sergio Gor says Indian TV news debates ‘get crazier’ in the evenings (August 24, 2026)
“Secretary Marco Rubio has proven to be the most qualified, accomplished and greatest secretary of state in history. He is irreplaceable, and a dear friend who I have the joy of working with every day as U.S. ambassador to India — a true honor of a lifetime. I have zero interest in any other role,” he said.
The report said Gor’s name has circulated in Trump’s political circles as a possible candidate for several influential positions during the second half of the president’s term. A U.S. official familiar with the discussions was quoted as saying, “He wants more of a forward-facing role.” Besides replacing Rubio, Gor has reportedly been discussed as a possible successor to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles or Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau.
Neither Rubio nor Wiles has publicly indicated an intention to leave their current positions. Some officials and Republican political figures believe Rubio could eventually leave the Cabinet to prepare for a possible presidential campaign in 2028 or 2032. These remain unconfirmed possibilities.
The White House also rejected the speculation. An official described the report as “fake” and said Gor had no interest in another position, adding that he believed Wiles and Rubio were doing a phenomenal job.
State Department Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson said Rubio and Gor had a strong professional relationship and personal friendship, dismissing the claims as rumors based on anonymous sources. Gor has served as U.S. ambassador to India since November 2025 and also holds the position of special envoy for South and Central Asia.
His influence in the administration extends beyond his diplomatic assignment. Before moving to New Delhi, he headed the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, where he played a major role in identifying and vetting thousands of political appointees across the federal government.
According to The Washington Sun, Gor has increasingly participated in high-level diplomatic meetings and developed close working relationships with senior administration officials, including Rubio.
He has helped coordinate visits to India by senior U.S. officials, including Rubio and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. He has also participated in meetings with foreign officials outside India, including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Rubio has visited India twice this year. The two officials also appeared together at a G20 summit in Atlanta last week.
READ: Trump names Sergio Gor as U.S. ambassador to India amid rising trade tensions (August 22, 2025)
Sameer Lalwani, a senior fellow in the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told The Washington Sun that Gor sometimes appeared to be functioning as a deputy secretary of state.
“It’s good for India; he has helped turn around the relationship a lot because he has a direct line to the White House,” Lalwani said.
The report also highlighted Gor’s role in the administration’s engagement with Central Asia. Born in Uzbekistan when it was part of the Soviet Union, Gor helped coordinate Trump’s outreach to Central Asian governments, including a meeting involving regional leaders at the White House.
Gor’s close relationship with Trump dates back to the president’s political campaigns. He served as a campaign aide in 2024 and previously worked for about a decade on Capitol Hill, primarily for Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky.
Whether Gor could secure a Cabinet-level appointment remains uncertain. Replacing Rubio as secretary of state would require Senate confirmation, and every Democrat voted against Gor’s ambassadorial confirmation as part of a larger package of nominees.
For now, Gor has publicly ruled out any interest in another administration role, while the White House has dismissed the reports of a possible reshuffle.