Vice President JD Vance dismissed President Donald Trump’s rumors about his campaign with Secretary of State Marco Rubio as he likened Trump’s interest in the GOP leadership successor to “The Apprentice.”
Vance told reporters at a news conference Wednesday that he is not thinking about 2028, calling Rubio a “very dear friend” and insisting he is focused on his role in the Trump administration.
But the president seems invested in the possibility of Vance and Rubio competing to be his successor.The New York Times reportedon Sunday that Trump has been polling friends and advisers on whether Vance or Rubio should be at the top of the GOP presidential ticket in 2028. And on Monday, Trump informally asked White House attendees who they preferred to lead the party before saying that a ticket featuring the two would be a “dream team.”
Vance played down the importance of comments that seem to pit Vance and Rubio against each other, joking that public whispers about the future of the party resemble reality shows Trump hosted before entering politics.
“I don’t think it looks like the president of the United States is having a televised contest of who is going to succeed him as his apprentice,” Vance said, prompting laughter from others in the room. “I think that’s not at all what you would expect a president to do.”
The vice president said it was “natural” for Trump to be so interested in who the Republican nominee is in 2028 that he would “joke” with Vance and Rubio about their political futures.
While Vance has been looking to quell speculation about his political future, he has taken steps to prepare for a possible run for the White House. As the Republican National Committee’s finance chairman, Vance has traveled the country meeting with donors who can help boost future campaigns. And he has campaigned for Republicans in battleground seats, includingearlier this month in Iowausually the first presidential nomination contest on the calendar.
Rubio’s high-profile role in advancing Trump’s foreign policy agenda has won him supporters across the country andinside the White House. But he has repeatedly suggested he won’t run against Vance in 2028.
