Washington D.C. — President Donald Trump has signaled for the first time that Vice President JD Vance is “most likely” to be the heir to his Make America Great Again (MAGA) legacy, while also suggesting that Secretary of State Marco Rubio could join him “in some form.”
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump responded to a question about his political successor by saying, “Well, I think most likely. In all fairness, he’s the vice president.” Trump added that while it’s still “too early” to speak definitively about 2028, Vance is “doing a great job” and currently stands as the “probable favourite.”
Vance, 40, a former Marine and Ohio Senator from 2023 to 2025, has quickly risen through the ranks in Trump’s second term. He has taken on a visible leadership role in advancing the president’s agenda, building a significant profile within the MAGA movement.
However, Trump also left the door open for Rubio’s involvement in a future leadership structure. “Marco can also get together with JD in some form,” he said, hinting at potential collaboration between the two.
Rubio, who previously competed with Vance for the vice-presidential spot, currently serves as Secretary of State. While he has publicly dismissed speculation about his own 2028 ambitions, he has not ruled them out. “You never know what the future holds,” Rubio said in a recent Fox News interview.
Both Vance and Rubio are considered influential voices in Trump’s administration and have reportedly developed a close working relationship. “Marco is incredibly competent and reliable, and he’s also one of my closest friends in the administration,” Vance told CNN last month.
Trump had previously named both men as potential successors back in May, but Tuesday’s remarks mark his strongest hint yet that Vance may lead the movement after him.
