On the patio at Mar-a-Lago or at dinners, President Donald Trump has reportedly asked his friends and colleagues to choose between two administration leaders that could succeed him in 2028: Vice President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The president brings up the topic that is slowly building momentum in Republican circles, mulling over which of the two high-profile officials could win over Republican voters, according to the New York Times.
Vance, 41, is largely considered the frontrunner to take the reins of Trump’s legacy due to his popularity among moderate Republicans. But 54-year-old Rubio’s decades of political experience and multifaceted role in the current administration have resonated with many voters.
The president only poses the question for fun, Trump advisers have said, according to the New York Times, and often suggests the two men, who he refers to as “kids,” should run on the same ticket.
But the consistent conversations around Vance and Rubio have ignited debates, especially as both men take on more public-facing roles.
Vance has taken a larger step into foreign affairs, helping lead so-far unsuccessful peace negotiations with Iran and attempting to rally support for Viktor Orbán, the former Hungarian leader who lost his re-election bid.
Recently, Vance has been deployed to rallies in the Midwest to connect with voters ahead of the midterms. The vice president’s background growing up in a white working-class Appalachian family has helped him engage with voters. But his recent stumbling through a speech in Iowa attracted negative attention.
Once a self-described “never Trump guy,” Vance’s progression to becoming Trump’s running mate mirrors much of the Republican Party’s feelings toward Trump between 2015 and now.
After being heckled at a Turning Point USA event in April, Vance struck an understanding tone with young voters who disagree with the administration’s stance on the Iran war.
“I’m not saying you have to agree with me on every issue. What I am saying is don’t get disengaged because you disagree with the administration on one topic,” Vance said.
But his attempt to strike a more diplomatic tone has not translated into public polling, which shows voters find Vance mostly unfavorable.
Despite his years in public service, Rubio is a lesser-known administration official, a Pew Research Center poll found.
But he’s attracted public attention, in part thanks to a meme that jokes about the many roles he fills while also serving as head of the State Department. Over the last year, Trump has made Rubio the acting National Security Adviser, former acting Archivist to the United States and former acting head of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Each time a new role opens up, from the Secretary of Homeland Security or Attorney General to the Supreme Leader of Iran or head of Spirit Airlines, Rubio becomes a meme.
His status as a wearer of many hats has cemented him as a trusted leader in the administration. Already, Rubio is intimately involved in foreign affairs, assisting in discussions with Iran and leading efforts to reform Cuba’s communist government.
But he’s stepped into a more public spokesman role recently by leading the White House press briefing with jokes and making a public display of amends with Pope Leo XIV.
However, Rubio, a close friend of Vance’s, has publicly stated that he would not run against the vice president if he chose to seek the presidency.
“If JD Vance runs for president, he’s going to be our nominee, and I’ll be one of the first people to support him,” Rubio said in a Vanity Fair interview last year.
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