Trump pitches Vance to donors as next presidential candidate in private meeting - report

According to a report by The Washington Post, US President Donald Trump has expressed his desire for Vice President JD Vance to secure the 2028 presidential election victory to his donors. In a meeting held in the Oval Office two weeks ago, Trump reportedly stated, "At the end of the day, we need to elect JD" when asked about his preference for the Republican Party's nominee.

A presidential advisor suggested that Trump has made Vance his preferred candidate for the party, although it remains "too early" to confirm when Vance might formally announce his candidacy. However, other advisors cautioned that Trump's stance could potentially change, as he tends to give varying responses to different individuals.

One official emphasized that assuming Trump's endorsement for Vance as certain would be premature, indicating that the president's opinions can be inconsistent. The anticipated main contender for Trump's potential ticket in the 2028 election is Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a figure who has garnered significant backing from Jewish Americans.

According to activist Shabbos Kestenbaum, who spoke in May, there is an overwhelming majority of support for Rubio within American Jewish conservative circles, with a margin of 99 to 1. Kestenbaum conveyed that "I can certainly tell you with confidence that in the American Jewish conservative circles, it’s Marco Rubio by a margin of 99 to 1."

Trump has also reportedly considered a Vance-Rubio ticket, though he has not definitively stated his preference for either individual to become president.