Secretary of State Marco Rubio had wanted to stay off the campaign trail, wary of the implications of appearing as the nation’s chief diplomat and the speculation his joining the fray would cause about his own presidential ambitions.

But President Donald Trump — fond of Rubio and the applause he gets from MAGA crowds — lured him to two campaign stops in the final midterm stretch last Tuesday and on Sunday evening.

Rubio seemed at ease speaking to the crowd in Salina, Kansas, on Sunday evening in what could be a dress rehearsal for 2028.

“People are loving this guy,” Trump said as he called his chief diplomat and national security adviser up to the stage “to say a quick hello.”Rubio took a look out at the crowd gathered to support the re-election campaign of Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, and spoke for about 30 seconds, praising Trump’s security record and invoking his inner politician as he paused for applause and emphatically gestured out to the crowd to emphasize his message before departing back into the audience to a roar of applause.

“The most important job every president does is keep you and your family safe. And no president in my lifetime has done that better than the one we have right now,” Rubio said.

As the secretary of state walked off stage, Trump joked that Rubio “is getting too popular.”Until last week, Rubio had refrained from showing up at political events mostly, declining requests from donors and his political network to engage.

But Trump had asked Rubio to come along last week on some of his appearances, two people familiar with Rubio’s thinking said. It was that direct request from the president that changed his posture.

“He’s a naturally gifted politician, and he obviously thrives in that environment. I think it shows just how close the personal bond is between Rubio and Trump,” said one of the people familiar with his thinking.

Still, Rubio “respects the role of the secretary of state and has intentionally avoided the appearance of being involved in the midterm campaigning,” the person said.

The State Department said Rubio joined Trump in his capacity as national security adviser, a role that can involve domestic travel. His appearances at campaign rallies, however, were unusual for a sitting secretary of state. Rubio has both jobs.

A White House official said Rubio’s travel with Trump in his national security adviser capacity was “typical and appropriate for the role.”Rubio’s appearance at a midterm campaign rally in Texas on Oct. 27 came after Trump and Rubio showcased an oil tanker carrying Venezuelan crude, a visit which highlighted Trump’s work to bring the Venezuela’s oil industry under U.S. control, a policy that Rubio has worked closely on.

Rubio’s appearance in Kansas on Sunday night rally lacked a similar national security connection, though officials said he could brief Trump on security matters while traveling with him.

Rubio hasn’t made up his mind about running for president in 2028, but he is keeping his options open, said one of the people familiar with Rubio’s thinking.

While Trump has said in private conversations the party should back Vice President JD Vance, Trump has declined to do so openly. After Vance said earlier this month that he expected Trump would endorse him should Vance run, Trump told reporters a day later the pair had never discussed it.

Vance continues to lead Rubio in national polling of a hypothetical 2028 Republican primary, though his advantage has shrunk since earlier this year.

Before Rubio joined Trump in Texas, a State Department official said Rubio would not make any prepared remarks whenever appearing with the president on the trail, though several privately said they would not be surprised to see the president call Rubio up onstage, as he did in both Texas and Kansas.

Speculation around Rubio is only likely to grow once the midterms are over and 2028 contenders begin to declare their candidacies.

Should Rubio want to get into the race, he’d likely have to decide by early next summer, Republican strategists said. The first movers are likely to be those who don’t expect to receive any backing from Trump, said Terry Sullivan, who was Rubio’s 2016 campaign manager but is not working for him now.

“The ones who would be first out are going to be the ones who are less likely to get Trump’s support — more like a [Sen.] Ted Cruz [R-Texas] or a [Florida Gov.] Ron DeSantis,” Sullivan said. “If you can get the president’s blessing or you currently work for the president, you’re going to wait.”Rubio would also have to resign from his job as secretary of state if he wanted to run, unlike Vance, who can mount his bid while staying in his role. That’s because the Hatch Act, which covers all federal civilian executive branch employees except for the president and the vice president, restricts participation in certain partisan political activities, including seeking partisan office.