US President Donald Trump has frequently asked confidants and advisers who would be preferable as his political heir in 2028: Vice President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to a New York Times report, Trump often asks, "What do you think? JD or Marco?" and has even raised the possibility of the two running together on a joint Republican ticket for president and vice president. His advisers claimed he "just enjoys asking people," but the two figures, whom Trump calls "the kids," have recently been raising their public profiles ahead of the congressional midterm elections in November.
Rubio appeared in the White House briefing room last week and answered questions about the war in Iran, then traveled to Italy, where he met Pope Leo XIV after the public spat between the pontiff and President Trump. Rubio presented the pope with a crystal football. "Wow, OK," the pope responded.
At the same time, Vance was sent to Iowa to help Republican Congressman Zach Nunn, where he attacked the Democrats. "It breaks your heart as a kid who comes from a family of union Democrats to realize that the Democrats of today, it seems to me, care more about gender transition than whether you get to keep more of your hard-earned money," he said.
The parallel public appearances reignited speculation over the possibility that Rubio could try to challenge Vance, who is considered the front-runner for the Republican nomination. However, people close to both men said they are friends and do not want to be seen as rivals. Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt said "they both appreciate the moment," adding that Trump's historic comeback and the unique coalition he built "drive them to work together, in addition to their personal friendship."
Rubio himself previously told Vanity Fair, "If JD Vance runs for president, he will be our nominee, and I'll be one of the first people to support him." At the same time, when a former senior State Department official who spoke with Israel Hayom was asked to interpret Rubio's remarks about running for president, he replied, "He also said he wouldn't run against his mentor, Jeb Bush, and he did. Everyone talks nonsense."
According to The New York Times, Vance still holds a clear advantage among Republican voters, but Rubio enjoys an image as an experienced and steady figure, partly against the backdrop of a series of online memes that mocked or highlighted the number of roles he holds in the administration. Republican pollster Whit Ayres said Rubio "could appeal to a lot of Republicans who went with Trump but weren't overly enthusiastic about him," while strategist Sarah Longwell wrote that his supporters see him as "the adult in the room."
By contrast, Sean Spicer, Trump's former press secretary, said that "you can't underestimate the practical advantage JD has," because the vice president can travel to key states, meet activists and donors, and build a political infrastructure from within his official role.
Hovering over all this is the question of Trump's own attitude: Marc Short, former chief of staff to Mike Pence, said that "the president, understandably, expects total loyalty from a vice president," but "in my experience, he doesn't really set up his vice president for political success afterward."
