'Favourite at this point': Trump backs VP JD Vance as his successor for 2028; considers Marco Rubio for key role

US President Donald Trump has indicated that Vice President JD Vance is “most likely” to be the political heir to the MAGA movement in 2028, while also floating Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a potential figure in future Republican leadership.In a recent interview, Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked Trump, "You could clear the entire Republican field right now. Do you agree that the heir apparent to MAGA is JD Vance?"“Well, I think most likely. In all fairness, he's the vice president,” Trump replied.Trump also brought up Marco Rubio as a key figure in future Republican leadership. “I think Marco is also somebody that maybe would get together with JD in some form,” he said.

“I also think we have some incredible people on the stage right here. So it's too early obviously to talk about it but certainly he's doing a great job and he would be probably favourite at this point,” Trump added.In a May interview with MSNBC, Trump praised Vance but declined to make any official announcement about 2028. “It — it could very well be — I — I don’t want to get involved in that. I think he’s a fantastic, brilliant guy.

Marco is great. But certainly you would say that somebody’s the VP, if that person is outstanding, I guess that person would have an advantage,” Trump said.Meanwhile, in a seperate interview months ago, Trump expressed interest in running again himself. He refused to endorse Vance outright and said he continues to receive requests from party members to consider a 2028 bid — even though the US Constitution limits presidents to two terms.Trump claimed there are “many loopholes” that could make a third term possible and insisted he was “not joking” when he previously floated the idea. His comments have drawn attention from constitutional experts, as no president has ever served more than two elected terms.