President Trump is signaling that the 2028 Republican presidential race may already have a frontrunner—and it’s his current Vice President, JD Vance.
In a series of comments on Tuesday, Trump said Vance is “most likely” the favorite to carry the MAGA movement forward into the 2028 presidential election, although he stopped short of offering a formal endorsement.
“I think most likely,” Trump replied to Fox News’ Peter Doocy when questioned on the matter. “He’s the Vice President.”
In a surprising twist, Trump floated the idea of pairing Vance with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a former rival from the 2016 primary and a figure once considered out of step with the MAGA wing of the party.
“Marco is somebody that maybe would get together with JD in some form,” Trump said, adding that he has “incredible people” in his Cabinet who could help shape the future of the movement.
Rubio’s name wasn’t widely seen as a likely addition to a 2028 MAGA ticket. Known for his hawkish foreign policy stance and past clashes with Trump, Rubio has since carved out a role in the administration as a foreign policy heavyweight. Trump’s suggestion of a Vance-Rubio alliance hints at a broader strategic vision—perhaps aiming to unite different factions of the GOP heading into the post-Trump era.
Despite renewed speculation, Trump insisted it’s “too early” to make any decisions about 2028. He also reiterated that he would “probably not” seek a third term—something barred by the Constitution but floated occasionally by Trump and his allies, sometimes jokingly, sometimes not.
Some political analysts believe Trump’s vague talk of 2028 and repeated third-term teases are part of a calculated effort to keep the spotlight on himself and his administration—delaying the inevitable jockeying for position that comes with an open Republican field.
Still, his remarks on Vance and Rubio may have already reshaped that conversation. Rubio in July signaled his support for a prospective J.D. Vance run for the nation’s highest office.
“Well, I think JD Vance would be a great nominee. If he decides he wants to do that. I think he’s doing a great job as Vice President. He’s a close friend and I hope he intends to do it,” Rubio told Fox News’ “My View With Lara Trump.”
“It’s kind of early, you know, but being in the role that I’m in here at the Secretary of State, I really don’t play in politics,” Rubio explained. “There’s actually rules against me being involved in domestic politics.”
“I want to do this job as long as the president allows me to do it and stay in that job, which would keep me here all the way through January of 2028,” he went on. “You never know what the future holds. You never rule things out or anything.”
Secretary of State Rubio has also described Vance as “one of my closest friends in politics.” If paired together in 2028, they might make for a formidable team.
The betting platform Polymarket launched its 2028 presidential election sweepstakes, giving users a chance to buy and sell shares on who they believe will win the White House.
Vice President JD Vance is the early favorite overall, sitting at 27 percent, according to the site.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom trails behind at 17 percent, followed by New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 10 percent. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and others round out the top of the board.
Kamala Harris, who was the Democrats’ 2024 nominee and former vice president, sits far down the list at just 4 percent, one point behind President Donald Trump, who is constitutionally barred from running again after completing two terms.
