President Donald Trump has indicated that JD Vance is the probable heir to the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement within the Republican Party for the 2028 presidential nomination. During a press engagement at the South Court Auditorium in Los Angeles, where he signed an executive order to establish a 2028 Los Angeles Olympics task force, Trump was directly asked if Vance, his vice president, would be the successor to MAGA. The question came from Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy, who noted that Trump has stated he would not run for a third presidential term. In response, Trump acknowledged that Vance, as the current vice president, is ‘probably favored’ at this point. He also suggested that Secretary of State Marco Rubio might potentially join forces with Vance to form a strong presidential ticket. However, Trump cautioned that the 2028 race is still too early to determine the final nominee with certainty. While he praised Vance’s performance as vice president, Trump also indicated that other members of his cabinet could potentially lead the MAGA movement in the future.
Rubio, who ran against Trump during the 2016 presidential primary, has since positioned himself as a key ally within the administration. Last month, Rubio explicitly dismissed speculation that he could be the Republican Party’s 2028 presidential nominee, instead throwing his support behind Vance. During an interview with Lara Trump that aired on the Fox News Channel, Rubio stated that ‘JD Vance would be a great nominee if he decides he wants to do that.’ He also commended Vance’s performance as vice president during the segment on ‘My View with Lara Trump,’ and made clear that he is satisfied with his current role in the White House. Despite Trump’s suggestion of a potential partnership between Rubio and Vance, neither has publicly committed to running or supporting each other in the 2028 race. The political landscape remains fluid as the 2028 election approaches, with the Republican Party still in the process of shaping its future leadership.