US President Donald Trump has indicated that Vice President JD Vance is "most likely" the successor to the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement — marking the strongest endorsement of Vance as a potential future presidential candidate.
In a conversation with reporters, Trump also proposed the possibility of a future Republican ticket that would feature Vance alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
"Well, I think most likely," Trump remarked when asked if Vance is the heir apparent to the movement. "In all fairness, he’s the vice president."
Trump further mentioned that Rubio — who has previously served as a senator from Florida and currently holds the dual positions of Secretary of State and National Security Adviser — could potentially collaborate with Vance: "I think Marco is also someone who might team up with JD in some capacity. I also believe we have remarkable individuals — some of the people on the stage right here."
Accompanying Trump at the event were other notable figures from the administration, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi, both of whom are thought to have their own presidential aspirations.
"It’s too early, obviously, to discuss it," Trump added, "but certainly [Vance] is performing excellently, and he would likely be the frontrunner at this stage."
Rubio himself seemed receptive to the notion of a Vance candidacy. Just last month, he commended the vice president in an interview with Fox News’ Lara Trump, stating, “I think he’s doing a great job as vice president. He’s a close friend, and I hope he intends to do it. But I know it’s kind of early.”
While Rubio didn’t dismiss the possibility of his own presidential aspirations, he remarked, “You never know what the future holds.”
This represents a change in tone for Trump, who had previously been hesitant to endorse a successor for the 2028 election. In February, he referred to Vance as “very capable,” yet refrained from naming him as the primary candidate to uphold the MAGA legacy.
Vance, a 40-year-old former U.S. Marine and Ohio senator, has assumed a progressively significant role in Trump’s second term — both at home and internationally. As one of Trump’s leading surrogates and a pivotal figure in foreign policy, he has established a central position within the administration.
Rubio’s dual role, the first since Henry Kissinger to hold both the Secretary of State and National Security Adviser titles, also indicates his strong standing in the Trump White House.Although both men competed for the VP role during the 2024 campaign, Vance and Rubio have since fostered a close working relationship. “Marco is incredibly competent and reliable,” Vance shared with CNN last month. “And he’s also one of my closest friends in the administration.” if the 2028 race include either or both of them, it would signify a continuation of Trump’s impact on Republican politics, extending even beyond his presidency.