President Donald Trump asked a group of donors at his Mar-a-Lago estate for their thoughts about Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump posed the question during a gathering at the Florida resort.
“What do you think of JD Vance and Marco Rubio?” Trump asked, the Wall Street Journal reported.
According to sources who spoke to The Wall Street Journal, donors applauded loudly for Rubio. The applause for Rubio was reportedly louder than the reaction for Vance. The informal poll came one day after Trump placed Rubio prominently in the administration’s public posture.
Trump noted Monday during a press conference in Florida that Vance had been “less enthusiastic” about going to war with Iran. Trump also described differences in the way the two men approach politics and diplomacy.
“He gets a little bit tough on occasion; we gotta slow him down on occasion,” Trump said about Vance.
Trump then contrasted that approach with Rubio’s style.
“Then we have the opposite extreme,” Trump said.
‘HE’S A GOOD GUY’: Vice President Vance tells @seanhannity that he considers Sec. Marco Rubio his “best friend” and a “mentor” from their time in the Senate, while dismissing any notion of political rivalry. pic.twitter.com/5K3FqBQKIP
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 14, 2025
“Marco does it with a velvet glove. But it’s a kill,” Trump said.
Despite the strong reaction from donors, a recent poll suggests Vance may hold greater influence among voters.
A survey conducted by the Daily Mail and JL Partners between March 2 and March 3 asked voters which figures have the most influence in Trump’s inner circle.
BREAKING: Marco Rubio’s 2028 Presidential odds hit a new all-time high after Republican donors signal they prefer him over JD Vance. pic.twitter.com/chkdHCSg5C
— Polymarket (@Polymarket) March 10, 2026
Vance led the poll with 19 percent. Rubio received 12 percent. Stephen Miller and Donald Trump Jr. were tied for third place. The poll surveyed 1,020 registered voters and had a margin of error of 3.1 percent.
The same survey found Rubio’s approval rating declined from 40 percent in February to 36 percent on Friday.
Thirty four percent of respondents said they disapproved of Rubio. Seventeen percent said they were neutral.
Fourteen percent said they were unsure.
Rubio or JD Vance in 2028?
According to “Charlie Kirk’s Rabbi” @RabbiPW, Marco Rubio would sweep the Southwest.
JD Vance?
“I don’t think he has a chance of winning a presidential election.”
Also… midway through this interview my daughter crashed the set.
Welcome to the… https://t.co/ZM5qb1H55o pic.twitter.com/pQWSrZrDGb
— Erin Molan (@Erin_Molan) March 10, 2026
Both Vance and Rubio have rejected suggestions that they are rivals. Vance addressed the issue during a February interview with Fox News.
“Marco is my closest friend in the administration,” Vance said.
“I think it’s so interesting the media wants to create this conflict where there just isn’t any conflict,” Vance said.
Rubio also addressed speculation about a possible 2028 presidential race. Rubio told Vanity Fair last year that if Vance runs for president in 2028 he would support him.
“If he runs for president in 2028, he’s going to be our nominee, and I’ll be one of the first people to support him,” Rubio said.
Trump has also suggested the possibility of future cooperation between the two men.
“I think Marco is also somebody that maybe would get together with JD in some form,” Trump said last year.
Donald Trump Jr. has also weighed in on discussions surrounding Vance. Trump Jr. said last month that he believes there has been a coordinated effort online to undermine the vice president.
“Arguably the most obvious and flagrant operation I’ve ever seen in the history of social media,” Trump Jr. said.
The president’s comments to donors come as political observers continue to speculate about the 2028 presidential race.
The post Trump Asks Donors About Rubio, Vance as 2028 Speculation Builds appeared first on Conservative Brief.
