Top Democrat Announces 2028 Decision

“At the end of the day, we need to elect JD,” an anonymous source first told the Washington Post.

While Vance remains the leading figure in many early hypothetical 2028 Republican presidential polls, Rubio has gained ground in several national surveys, early-state polls, and Republican straw polls ahead of a nominating contest that is not expected to begin in earnest until after the 2026 midterm elections.

According to the New York Post, however, Trump’s remarks should not be interpreted as an indication that he has chosen between Vance and Rubio as a potential successor.

But the comments have drawn attention because they offer a rare glimpse into Trump’s long-term political thinking.

During a donor event in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Trump mentioned Vance once, praising him for his work on combating fraud.

“He’s doing a great job,” Trump said of the vice president.

Rubio, who represented Florida in the U.S. Senate before joining the Trump administration, was one of more than a dozen Republicans who sought the party’s presidential nomination in 2016 before losing to Donald Trump.