President Donald Trump has begun informally discussing potential Republican leadership for the 2028 presidential election with close advisers, according to multiple individuals familiar with the conversations reported by Axios.
During these discussions, Trump has repeatedly raised a key question: whether Vice President J. D. Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be the stronger candidate to lead the Republican Party after his presidency. Sources say Vance, whom Trump selected as his running mate, remains the president’s preferred successor and already has a political infrastructure that could support a future campaign.
Rubio, by contrast, has not taken comparable steps toward a potential bid and has reportedly indicated he would support Vance if the vice president decides to run. However, Trump has increasingly praised Rubio both publicly and privately, highlighting his growing prominence in his roles as secretary of state and national security adviser. In private conversations, Trump has contrasted the two leaders’ styles, describing Rubio as more diplomatic and Vance as more combative in his political approach. Advisers caution that Trump’s comparisons should not be interpreted as a sign of declining support for Vance. One adviser characterized a potential “Vance-Rubio” ticket as Trump’s ideal scenario for 2028, emphasizing that Vance would lead the ticket. Still, the adviser noted that Trump would also be satisfied with a Rubio-Vance partnership. The discussions come as Republicans begin looking beyond the 2026 midterm elections and consider the party’s long-term leadership.
