Trump Favors JD Vance as a Potential Successor for the 2028 Presidential Election, According to The Washington Post

Donald Trump is considering Vice President JD Vance as one of the potential candidates to succeed him in the 2028 presidential race, according to a new report.

The Washington Post writes that the US president recently backed the idea of Vance running during a private meeting with donors in the Oval Office.

According to two people familiar with the conversation, Trump reportedly said during the meeting: “Ultimately, we have to choose JD.”

The president has so far not publicly announced an official endorsement of any candidate in the 2028 election. He has mentioned both JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while on several occasions joking about a third presidential term.

An earlier report indicated that Trump has become more open to the prospect of Vance running, influenced by the vice president’s recent public appearances and the transformation of his image.

Despite this, some people close to Trump believe it is far too early to say that the president has made a final decision.

“Anyone who thinks this issue is definitively settled is either exaggerating or does not know the president well,” a White House official said.

The same source said that Trump has also privately considered the possibility of a contest between Vance and Rubio. According to the official, during a flight aboard Marine One last month, the president asked aides for their views on a potential matchup between the two Republicans.

Six other advisers who are part of Trump’s political circle have also stressed that it is still far too early to determine which candidate will ultimately secure the president’s endorsement in 2028.

One Trump adviser said that the president “has privately decided that Vance will be the heir to the Republican Party.” However, he added that it is not yet clear whether this position will translate into an official endorsement during the campaign.

According to the same adviser, Trump would also prefer to see Rubio compete against Vance. Meanwhile, it remains unknown whether Rubio would accept a vice-presidential candidate role on a ticket led by Vance in 2028.