Vance, Rubio, or Hegseth? Trump's inner circle quietly prepares for fierce US 2028 race - analysis
Trump, who completely remade the GOP in his image, may discover that choosing who inherits it is more difficult than choosing who serves beneath him
The United States is grappling with the question of who will succeed President Donald Trump in the 2028 presidential race. Senior figures in Trump's administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, are weighing their options for a presidential run. However, the voters may scuttle one or all of their ambitions in the November midterms.
Trump is applying substantial pressure on Republicans to secure victories in the upcoming midterms to maintain their congressional majority. The current approval rating of the president stands at 33%, as indicated by an August Reuters/Ipsos poll. Trump has repeatedly emphasized the importance of winning the midterms, warning that a loss could lead to "very bad things" for US voters.
Trump has publicly backed both Vance and Rubio, with the latter being dubbed his "dream team." However, Vance has been seen as the frontrunner to succeed Trump, and Trump reportedly stated this privately to Oval Office investors. Yet, Trump's preferences have reportedly been fluid, and he has denied the report stating he will endorse a candidate before much later.
As Trump's potential successors, Vance and Rubio each have their unique selling points. Vance, associated with the younger, more radical wing of the MAGA movement, has courted Silicon Valley businesspeople and could appeal to working-class voters due to his Ohio roots. Rubio, on the other hand, is a seasoned international policy expert with a track record of diplomatic achievements.
He currently polls better than Vance among conservative voters and has the potential to attract older, more educated Republicans and Hispanic voters.
However, Rubio's eligibility to run for president is limited by his current position as Secretary of State. Nevertheless, with the midterms looming, the future of Trump's inner circle and the Republican Party hangs in the balance.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
