Washington, August 6 (ANI): President Donald Trump told a private gathering of donors that he wants Vice President JD Vance to win the 2028 presidential election, signaling he is open to backing Vance as his successor, according to a report by The Washington Post.
Citing two people familiar with the comments who spoke on the condition of anonymity, The Washington Post reported that Trump made the remarks during a meeting with donors in the Oval Office about two weeks ago.
“At the end of the day, we need to elect JD,” Trump said, according to the report.
The newspaper noted that while the comments suggest Trump is leaning toward supporting Vance, advisers say the president has not made a final decision and continues to weigh Vance against Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The private remarks contrast with Trump’s public comments over the past year. He has repeatedly suggested that Vance and Rubio would make a strong presidential ticket while declining to identify a preferred nominee for the top of the ticket.
According to the report, even after praising Vance to donors, Trump continued asking advisers about the relative strengths of Vance and Rubio.
One White House official told The Washington Post that Trump questioned staff about the two men during a Marine One flight late last month.
Meanwhile, an adviser with direct knowledge of Trump’s remarks to donors said the president has privately concluded that Vance should become the Republican Party’s standard-bearer but believes it is too early to determine when Vance might announce a presidential campaign or when Trump would publicly endorse him.
However, six other Trump advisers and allies told the newspaper they remain unconvinced that Trump has made a final decision, noting that he often tells different people different things and could still change his mind.
“Anyone assuming it’s a lock is just getting way ahead of themselves, or just doesn’t know the president very well,” the White House official said, according to The Washington Post.
Vance has not confirmed whether he intends to run for president in 2028.
People who have spoken with Vance told The Washington Post earlier this year that he had not yet decided. One person close to the vice president said he planned to delay making a decision until after the birth of his fourth child, who was born on July 19.
In June, Vance told CBS News that he would discuss the matter with his wife after the midterm elections but expressed confidence that Trump would support whatever decision he made. He has repeatedly said he is focused on serving as vice president and has described Rubio as a close friend.
According to the report, the prospect of a succession battle has already created tensions within Republican circles, with donors, activists, and party leaders expressing strong views for and against Vance.
The newspaper said much could depend on the outcome of the midterm elections. A disappointing performance by Republicans could encourage other candidates to challenge Trump’s preferred successor and criticize aspects of his administration.
The report also noted that during the 2024 vice presidential selection process, Rubio was favored by many traditional Republican donors, while Vance has stronger support within the younger MAGA coalition that helped return Trump to the White House in 2024. As vice president, Vance has also spent considerable time cultivating relationships with major Republican donors.
“Vance has done a lot of political work in the last year and a half,” the Trump adviser told The Washington Post.
According to the report, Rubio has avoided discussing the 2028 election and recently reduced his media appearances to limit questions about his political ambitions. A person close to Rubio said he has indicated in internal conversations that he intends to serve out his current term and does not have an active presidential campaign infrastructure in place.
The Trump adviser also said Trump would still like to see Rubio on a national ticket with Vance, although it remains unclear whether Rubio would be interested in serving as Vance’s running mate. A spokesperson for Rubio declined to comment. (ANI)
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