Trump Signals Private Preference for Vance in 2028 Succession, Though Questions Remain

President Donald Trump privately told donors that “we need to elect JD” during an Oval Office meeting roughly two weeks ago, according to sources who spoke with The Washington Post. The remark, confirmed to Fox News Digital, suggests Trump may be leaning toward Vice President JD Vance over Secretary of State Marco Rubio as his potential 2028 successor, though sources cautioned the comment does not necessarily signal a final decision has been made.

Trump has maintained public ambiguity about his choice between the two men who lead his administration, even as he has praised both extensively. He referenced Vance during a donor speech in Las Vegas on Wednesday, commending the vice president’s “war on fraud,” while separately calling Rubio “the greatest secretary of state in history” and promoting a potential Vance-Rubio ticket as “unstoppable.”

Advisers close to the president remain divided on whether Trump has truly settled on Vance. While one aide told the Post that Trump has privately made up his mind, six other advisers and allies said they were unconvinced the president had reached a final determination. These advisers noted that Trump often sends different signals to different audiences and may alter his position before the 2028 campaign begins.

Vance holds significant advantages in the emerging succession contest. As Republican National Committee finance chair, he has access to the party’s cash reserves of more than $128 million, according to a June Federal Elections Commission filing. He has also built a political team of advisers and spent much of his vice presidency cultivating relationships with Republican donors and activists aligned with the party’s populist wing.

Rubio, who has indicated he would support a Vance candidacy if the vice president runs, has not assembled a comparable political infrastructure. However, GOP donors backing the secretary of state have quietly explored ways to boost his profile, sources told Fox News earlier this year—a development that has reportedly caused friction within Trump’s political circle.

Vance has not yet announced his 2028 intentions. He said in June he planned to discuss his political future with his wife after the midterm elections and previously told the Post he wanted to wait until after the birth of his fourth child before seriously considering a campaign. That child was born on July 19.

Trump’s team expects the president to delay any formal endorsement to preserve his influence during the remainder of his presidency, according to the Post. The dynamic mirrors his 2024 running mate search, when both Vance and Rubio were finalists, with advisers noting that Trump enjoys maintaining suspense around major political decisions and is reluctant to hand the spotlight to a potential successor too early.