WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Wednesday declined to take sides in growing speculation over who could emerge as his successor in the 2028 Republican presidential race, saying it was too early to choose between Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Speaking in an interview with NBC News, Trump said he would be “inclined” to endorse a successor at the appropriate time but stressed that the decision was still years away. “We have three years to go,” he said, adding that both men were doing an excellent job and that he did not want to create unnecessary rivalry within his administration.
Read More: Trump praises Vance and Rubio but avoids picking 2028 successor
JD Vance, a former Republican senator from Ohio, has indicated that he plans to discuss the possibility of a presidential run with Trump after the November midterm elections. Vance is widely viewed as a rising figure within the party, particularly among Trump’s core supporters.
At the same time, Republican insiders have increasingly mentioned Marco Rubio as a potential contender. Rubio, who previously sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 before losing to Trump, has not ruled out another bid. While remaining cautious about his own ambitions, Rubio has publicly praised Vance, calling him a strong and capable leader.
Trump has repeatedly suggested that Vance and Rubio could even consider running together on a future ticket. In a remark seen as a nod toward Rubio, Trump described one of the pair as being “slightly more diplomatic than the other,” while emphasising that both possessed high intelligence and distinct leadership styles.
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“I think there’s a difference in style,” Trump said, noting that voters could judge for themselves. He added that a combined Vance-Rubio ticket would be “very hard to be beaten,” while acknowledging the unpredictability of politics.
The 2028 election is expected to be wide open on both the Republican and Democratic sides, with crowded primary fields likely. During the interview, Trump also briefly revisited the idea of seeking an unconstitutional third term, saying cryptically that such a scenario would be “interesting,” though he offered no details.