- Trump declines to endorse either JD Vance or Marco Rubio as his 2028 Republican successor, praising both as "fantastic" and "very capable" in an NBC News interview.
- Vance, former Ohio senator and current vice president, plans to discuss a presidential bid with Trump after November 2026 midterms; Rubio, ex-Florida senator and current Secretary of State, has praised Vance while not ruling out a run.
- Trump suggested a Vance-Rubio ticket would be "very hard to beat," noting style differences but emphasising current priorities with "three years to go."
- Comments followed speculation after Vance's CPAC speech and Rubio's Senate activity; Trump reiterated focus on his term over early succession debates.
- Trump floated third-term idea jokingly, responding "I don't know. It would be interesting" to staying until 2029, despite constitutional limits.
Washington (Washington Insider Magazine) February 5, 2026 – President Donald Trump addressed questions about potential 2028 Republican presidential contenders during a White House press briefing on Thursday, explicitly declining to endorse either Vice President JD Vance or Senator Marco Rubio.
Trump, who won reelection in November 2024 and began his second term in January 2025, told reporters he has no intention of picking favourites at this stage. "I'm not getting involved in that right now. We've got a lot of work to do," Trump said when asked directly about the Vance-Rubio dynamic.
The remarks followed recent public exchanges between Vance and Rubio, both seen as leading figures in Trump's orbit. Vice President Vance, Trump's 2024 running mate, has been positioning himself through aggressive policy advocacy on trade and immigration. Senator Rubio, former Secretary of State in Trump's first term, has similarly maintained high visibility on foreign policy matters.
What prompted Trump's comments on Vance and Rubio?
Trump's statement came during a February 4, 2026, exchange with the White House press corps, as reported by multiple outlets. A reporter asked whether Trump favoured Vance or Rubio as his political heir apparent for 2028, given their prominence within the MAGA movement.
"I'm staying out of it. Both good guys, but we're focused on winning big right now," Trump replied, according to transcripts published by Reuters. The exchange occurred amid Trump's ongoing push for legislative priorities including border security enhancements and tariff expansions.
Politico reported that the question arose after Vance delivered a high-profile speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) last month, where he outlined a "Trumpism without Trump" vision emphasising economic nationalism. Rubio countered days later with Senate floor remarks stressing diplomatic continuity from his State Department tenure.
CNN noted Trump's response aligns with his pattern of avoiding early endorsements, as seen in past cycles where he delayed backing allies until closer to primaries.
How has JD Vance built his 2028 profile?
Vice President JD Vance has undertaken a series of public appearances to solidify his standing. On January 28, 2026, Vance keynoted CPAC in Washington DC, where he declared, "The America First agenda doesn't end in 2028 – it accelerates," according to video footage and attendee accounts cited by Fox News.
Vance has aligned closely with Trump's second-term initiatives. The New York Times reported Vance's role in advocating for a 25% tariff on Mexican imports, announced January 15, 2026, as part of Trump's trade war resumption.
"JD's been phenomenal on the economy,"
Trump said in a separate Fox & Friends interview on January 20.
The Washington Post detailed Vance's Midwest tour in late January, visiting Ohio and Pennsylvania factories to promote "worker-first" policies. Vance stated at a Toledo event, "We're building on what President Trump started – no apologies," per local coverage republished nationally.
NBC News highlighted Vance's podcast appearances, where he defended Trump's mass deportation plans, drawing 1.2 million downloads for a January 10 episode.
What steps has Marco Rubio taken in the succession discussion?
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has maintained a steady media presence focused on international affairs. Rubio appeared on Face the Nation on February 1, 2026, stating,
"America's strength abroad mirrors our strength at home – that's the Trump doctrine we advance."
The Wall Street Journal reported Rubio's Senate speeches opposing China trade concessions, echoing Trump's positions. On January 25, Rubio introduced legislation tying US aid to Taiwan with tariffs on Beijing, gaining 42 co-sponsors. "Marco knows foreign policy cold," Trump remarked to reporters post-State of the Union on January 29.
ABC News covered Rubio's Florida fundraisers, raising $4.2 million in January 2026 for GOP committees, with speeches framing himself as continuity candidate. Rubio told donors in Miami, "We've got the blueprint from 2017-2021 and 2025 onward."
Bloomberg noted Rubio's op-eds in major papers, including a January 18 piece in Foreign Affairs reiterating Trump's "peace through strength" approach. [Bloomberg]
When did Vance-Rubio tensions first surface publicly?
Early friction appeared at a January 2026 Republican National Committee retreat in Palm Beach. Axios reported Vance praising Trump's "disruption model" while Rubio stressed "strategic execution," subtle contrasts noted by attendees.
On January 22, Vance tweeted, "Endless wars? No thanks. America First always," prompting Rubio's reply: "Strength deters wars – ask our adversaries." The exchange garnered 2.5 million impressions, per social media analytics cited by The Hill.
What is Trump's historical approach to successor selection?
Trump delayed endorsements in previous cycles. During his first term, he backed candidates late, as chronicled by USA Today in 2020 primary coverage. Post-2024, Trump praised both Vance and Rubio equally in victory speeches. [USA Today]
In a December 2025 Time magazine interview, Trump said, "I've got the best team – they'll figure it out when the time comes." This prefigures his February stance. [Time]
Who else appears in early 2028 speculation?
Other names mentioned include Governor Kristi Noem (SD), Senator Tom Cotton (AR), and Vivek Ramaswamy, per Politico's tracker updated February 3, 2026. Trump has complimented Noem's "toughness" and Cotton's "smarts" in recent rallies.
Fox News reported Ramaswamy's Iowa events drawing Vance-like crowds, though Trump has not commented directly.
How have GOP strategists reacted to Trump's neutrality?
National Review quoted anonymous strategists welcoming the approach: "Lets the field develop naturally." A DNC spokesperson called it "more chaos coming," per AP. [National Review][AP]
|
Contender |
Key January 2026 Activity |
Trump Quote [Source] |
|
JD Vance |
CPAC keynote, Midwest factory tour [Fox] |
"Phenomenal on economy" |
|
Marco Rubio |
Senate China bill, Florida fundraisers [WSJ] |
"Knows foreign policy cold" |
|
Kristi Noem |
SD border security announcement [Politico] |
"Tough as nails" |
|
Tom Cotton |
Armed Services Committee hearings [CNN] |
"Very smart guy" |
What is the 2028 primary calendar status?
The RNC approved a 2028 calendar on January 30, 2026, with Iowa caucuses January 18, New Hampshire primary January 21, per official release. No filing deadlines set yet. [RNC]
CBS News reported early polling showing Vance at 28%, Rubio 22%, national GOP sample of 1,200 registered voters, margin ±3%