President Donald Trump often triggers left-wing Democrats and TDS-affected Republicans when he floats running for a third term in 2028, even going so far as to wear a red ballcap with “Trump 2028” emblazoned on it.
But the president knows he’s constitutionally limited to two terms, so the real question has been who he’ll support as his successor.
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The most obvious choice would be Vice President JD Vance, though Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s name has been mentioned more than a few times, as he has taken on several roles for the president in addition to his duties as secretary of state.
That said, according to Fox News, the president told donors at a meeting in the Oval Office two weeks ago who he will back.
“At the end of the day, we need to elect JD,” an anonymous source first told the Washington Post.
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While Vance remains the leading figure in many early hypothetical 2028 Republican presidential polls, Rubio has gained ground in several national surveys, early-state polls, and Republican straw polls ahead of a nominating contest that is not expected to begin in earnest until after the 2026 midterm elections.
According to the New York Post, Trump’s remarks should not be interpreted as an indication that he has chosen between Vance and Rubio as a potential successor.
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However, the comments have drawn attention because they offer a rare glimpse into Trump’s long-term political thinking.
WaPo: Trump privately told donors he’s picking JD Vance as the MAGA heir going into 2028
Vance impressed Trump lately by:
• Negotiating the June Iran ceasefire
• Leading a task force cracking down on federal fraud
• Handling a tough media circuit on his June book tour pic.twitter.com/VmAZqhDfMW— Martin Walsh (@martinwalsh__) August 6, 2026
During a donor event in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Trump mentioned Vance once, praising him for his work on combating fraud.
“He’s doing a great job,” Trump said of the vice president.
Rubio, who represented Florida in the U.S. Senate before joining the Trump administration, was one of more than a dozen Republicans who sought the party’s presidential nomination in 2016 before losing to Donald Trump.
Earlier this year, Rubio finished a close second to Vance in the closely watched 2028 Republican presidential nomination straw poll conducted at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
Those results, along with recent national and early-state polling, have fueled speculation about a potential rivalry between Rubio and Vance as possible contenders for the 2028 Republican nomination, even as both men have publicly described each other as friends.
Also, Rubio has said if he would not seek the GOP nomination if Vance does.
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“The president runs this administration: He is the very top of the administration; he makes orders,” Vance told “The Ingraham Angle” in an exclusive sit down Wednesday night.
“We, of course, have debates and conversations about what exactly we should do, but when the president of the United States makes a decision, we’re unified in this administration in carrying out that mission,” he added.
Although Vance was selected as Trump’s running mate in the 2024 election, Trump has also repeatedly praised Rubio for his work on foreign policy, including diplomatic efforts involving Venezuela, Cuba, and the Middle East.
Rubio has also served in multiple senior national security roles within the administration.
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Earlier this year, Trump said Rubio could become “the greatest secretary of state in history.”
For his part, Trump has floated a Vance-Rubio 2028 ticket.
The president has described a potential Republican ticket featuring Vance and Rubio as “unstoppable,” while declining to indicate which of the two should head such a ticket.
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Trump did say last year that Vance is “most likely” his heir, because “in all fairness, he’s the vice president.”
Although Vance has declined to discuss a potential 2028 presidential campaign, he has assembled a network of political advisers who could form the foundation of a national campaign should he decide to run.
Rubio, whose duties as secretary of state have kept him traveling extensively on international assignments, has not publicly developed a comparable political organization focused on a potential presidential bid.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
