Trump suggests Vance is his likely heir apparent in 2028

US President Donald Trump has publicly signaled Vice President JD Vance as the “most likely" successor to carry forward the MAGA movement in the 2028 Republican race, marking his strongest endorsement yet. “Well, I think most likely. In all fairness, he’s the vice president," Trump was quoted as saying by Reuters when asked if Vance was the heir apparent.

Trump also floated the idea of Secretary of State Marco Rubio joining future Republican ticket as Vance’s partner. “I think Marco is also somebody that maybe would get together with JD in some form," he added — suggesting a possible Vance‑Rubio ticket for 2028.

Since joining Trump’s administration, Vance has taken a visible role as chief surrogate and diplomat, staunchly defending the administration’s America‑First agenda. Trump had previously described Vance earlier in the year as “very capable," but had stated it was too early to anoint a successor. This shift marks a clear escalation in Trump’s public positioning of Vance as his political heir.