While the 2028 US elections still seem far off, the question of "who's next?" is already circulating in Washington corridors. According to Axios, citing multiple sources, Donald Trump's team is discussing the succession issue, and the main contenders are J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio.
According to Axios sources, some advisors are considering a scenario in which Vance becomes president, with Rubio as a strong number two. At the same time, Trump also highly values Rubio, noting his "diplomatic" style in contrast to Vance's "combative" character.
Axios also notes that Vance already has a political infrastructure ready to work in 2028: advisors, strategy, and an organizational base. Rubio does not yet have such a ready "staff," although he has openly expressed support for Vance's candidacy.
However, the competition is intensified by the fact that Vance has a "weakness" – his position as vice president generally does not involve active participation in foreign policy or decision-making, as is the case with the Secretary of State. Rubio, on the other hand, is more visible in the media space due to his work, and Trump, as is known, "craves" the flow of information. In short, whoever appears more often on camera is better remembered.
Current data also favors Vance. A poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center showed that Vance leads with 53% of the vote among Republicans planning to vote in the primaries, while Rubio has around 7%.
In January, Trump in an interview with NewsNation stated that there are "strong candidates" on the Republican front for 2028, specifically mentioning Vance, Rubio, and Scott Benson.
In conclusion, the 2028 elections are not soon, but there is no word "soon" in politics. Today's conversations can turn into large staffs tomorrow, and ultimately into real tandems. Trump is currently "holding both names" – one in hope, the other as an opportunity.
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