US President Donald Trump expressed his preference for Vice President JD Vance to succeed him in the 2028 presidential election by telling contributors in a private gathering that "we need to elect JD", according to a report.
Although advisers point out that the field is still unstable, his public strategy of promoting competition between Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio contrasts with this private endorsement, according to The Washington Post. The story claims that Trump made the comments about two weeks ago at a private meeting with fundraisers in the Oval Office.
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Trump told contributors, "At the end of the day, we need to elect JD," according to two individuals familiar with the exchange who spoke to The Washington Post under the condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to disclose the meeting.
The private remarks represent a change from Trump's public stance over the past year, when he has frequently fostered conjecture over who should eventually lead the Republican Party—Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The Washington Post revealed that Trump has continued to compare Vance and Rubio in private, despite having stated his support for Vance during the donor meeting.
During a recent Marine One flight late last month, Trump asked aides about the two leaders, a White House official told the newspaper. Six additional Trump advisors and allies, meanwhile, told The Washington Post they weren't sure the ruling was definitive.
They contended that Trump may yet change his mind prior to the 2028 election and frequently delivers different replies to different people.
According to an official with knowledge of Trump's conversations, "Anyone assuming it's a lock is just getting way ahead of themselves, or just doesn't know the president very well."
In order to avoid giving the impression that he has become a lame-duck president, Trump is also anticipated to postpone any endorsement, according to the article.
Vance has spent the last year enhancing his political status within the Republican Party, according to a Trump adviser cited by The Washington Post. "Vance has done a lot of political work in the last year and a half," the advisor stated.
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Marco Rubio still holds a number of important posts in the administration, including Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, despite Vance's growing popularity as a possible successor.
The Washington Post claims that Rubio finds it challenging to aggressively prepare for a presidential campaign because of those obligations.
Although it's still unclear if Rubio would be open to running alongside Vance, one Trump aide claims that the president still finds the prospect of a future Republican ticket with both Vance and Rubio appealing.
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