Donald Trump has been publicly noncommittal about his preferred successor for the 2028 presidential race. Yet, private remarks made to donors suggest the president is already leaning toward one contender, even as he continues to stoke speculation about JD Vance and Marco Rubio.
Donald Trump reportedly telling donors to elect JD Vance
Trump reportedly recently told donors gathered in the Oval Office that the Republican Party must rally behind JD Vance. “At the end of the day, we need to elect JD,” Trump said approximately two weeks ago, according to two anonymous sources familiar with the conversation (via The Washington Post).
The private comment stands in contrast to Trump’s public posture over the past year. He appears to have repeatedly encouraged a rivalry between Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, musing openly that the pair would form an effective joint ticket while declining to name his preferred candidate for the top spot.
One adviser claimed the president has privately settled on Vance as the heir to the Republican Party. However, the same adviser noted it remains too early to determine when Vance will formally announce a candidacy or when Trump would offer a public endorsement.
Despite Donald Trump’s behind-the-scenes signals, multiple allies warn against treating JD Vance’s position as secure. Six Trumpworld advisers and confidants cautioned that the president tells different things to different audiences and could still shift his stance on a 2028 endorsement.
“Anyone assuming it’s a lock is just getting way ahead of themselves, or just doesn’t know the president very well,” alleged one White House official. The official claimed that Trump was still quizzing staff about Vance versus Rubio as recently as late last month during a Marine One flight.
Trump aides broadly agree that any endorsement will be delayed to avoid the appearance of a lame-duck presidency. The president appears to enjoy the theatrical tension of a succession contest and reportedly has little interest in surrendering the spotlight early.
