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In private conversations, Trump has compared the two men’s political styles. He describes Rubio as more diplomatic and measured, while Vance is seen as a more aggressive, combative figure. Multiple advisers warned against reading too much into Trump’s questions, stressing that they do not signal waning support for Vance.
“Vance-Rubio is the president’s dream ticket” for 2028 — “and to be clear, that’s Vance on top,” one Trump adviser told Axios. “But would Trump be happy with a Rubio-Vance ticket? Absolutely.”
These discussions come at a pivotal moment for the GOP, as party officials gear up for the 2026 midterm elections. Vance is expected to play a major role in those races as finance chair of the Republican National Committee, keeping him in a position of influence.
Meanwhile, Rubio’s dual Cabinet roles keep him constantly in the public eye. His visibility could give him an edge over Vance, who generally draws less media attention despite his vice-presidential position.
Trump has not formally endorsed a successor and continues to frame any leadership talk as purely informal. Yet Rubio has already publicly thrown support behind Vance.
“If JD Vance runs for president, he’s going to be our nominee, and I’ll be one of the first people to support him,” Rubio told Vanity Fair last year. Sources told Axios that Rubio has reiterated this support privately, and the two remain close friends from their time together in the Senate.
Trump himself has previously hinted that Vance is “most likely” his heir apparent, noting, “in all fairness, he’s the vice president.” He also expressed hope that Rubio and Vance would “get together” politically, signaling his interest in a potential partnership.
Other insiders said Trump has deliberately avoided publicly endorsing anyone yet to ensure both men stay focused on their current roles and avoid the appearance that he is “handing off power.”
“Rubio’s twin responsibilities place him at the center of global affairs (as secretary of state) and the White House (as national security adviser),” Axios noted. “The vice presidency, by contrast, has no clear portfolio.”
That dynamic, according to sources familiar with Trump’s thinking, makes Rubio’s transition to vice president a difficult proposition. Some advisers speculate that elevating Rubio publicly is a tactic to encourage him to team up with Vance in 2028.
During a recent Board of Peace meeting, Trump joked with Rubio about his performance in Munich:
“Marco, you really did yourself proud two days ago in Munich. In fact, so proud that I almost terminated his employ, because they were saying, ‘Why can’t Trump do this?’ I do, but I say it differently,” Trump said. “But, Marco, don’t do any better than you did, please. Because if you do, you’re outta here.”
Vance echoed the camaraderie between the two men in an interview with Fox News’ Martha MacCallum on “The Story”:
“Marco is my closest friend in the administration… I think it’s so interesting the media wants to create this conflict where there just isn’t any conflict.”
As the GOP begins looking beyond 2024, Trump appears intent on keeping options open while signaling that Vance remains his preferred heir, with Rubio potentially complementing the ticket.
