JD Vance vs Marco Rubio: Donald Trump reveals his pick for 2028 US presidential polls

President Donald Trump has named Vice President JD Vance as the "most likely" successor to carry forward his Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, while also suggesting that Secretary of State Marco Rubio could play a significant role alongside him.

“Well, I think most likely. In all fairness, he’s the vice president,” Trump said on Tuesday in response to a question about who might lead the MAGA movement after him.

Though Trump noted it's still "too early" to discuss a 2028 successor, he acknowledged that Vance is “doing a great job” and is “probably the favorite at this point,” according to CNN.


At the same time, Trump left the door open for Rubio, adding, “Marco can also get together with JD in some form.”

This marks a notable shift, as Trump had previously avoided endorsing any individual for 2028. In February, he called Vance "very capable" but emphasized it was premature to name a frontrunner.

Vance, 40, a former Marine, previously served as U.S. Senator from Ohio (2023–2025) and has taken on an influential role in Trump’s second administration.

Rubio, meanwhile, dismissed speculation about a 2028 presidential bid in a recent interview with Fox News, saying he remains focused on his current role. However, he didn't entirely rule it out, noting, “You never know what the future holds.”

Both Vance and Rubio were contenders for the vice presidency before Vance secured the role. Now, the two are reportedly working closely to advance Trump’s agenda.

“Marco is incredibly competent and reliable, and he’s also one of my closest friends in the administration,” Vance told CNN last month.

This is the clearest indication yet from Trump that he views Vance as a potential standard-bearer for MAGA in the next election cycle. According to Time.com, Trump had floated both Vance and Rubio as possible successors as early as May.