Trump wants JD Vance as his successor in 2028 US presidential race: Report

US President Donald Trump wants current Vice President JD Vance to win the 2028 presidential election, according to a report by The Washington Post. The report claimed that Trump expressed his preference for Vance during a private meeting with donors. However, Trump has not publicly announced any preferred successor yet.

According to The Washington Post, Trump hinted at supporting Vance for the 2028 presidential race. In a meeting with donors at the Oval Office about two weeks ago, Trump reportedly said, “At the end of the day, we have to elect JD.”

Citing people familiar with the matter, the report said Trump’s remarks differ from his public stance over the past year. During that period, he encouraged competition between Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as potential future leaders of the Republican Party.

Trump has praised both Vance and Rubio and has suggested that they could even run together on the same ticket. However, he has not publicly named either of them as his preferred successor.

The report also said that although Trump indicated his support for Vance to donors, he is still having advisers evaluate Vance and Rubio’s strengths and political prospects.

A White House official said Trump also sought his advisers’ opinions about the two leaders while traveling on Marine One late last month.

One Trump adviser claimed that the president has personally decided that JD Vance will lead the Republican Party after him. However, the adviser added that the time has not yet come for Vance to announce his candidacy or for Trump to publicly endorse him.

Meanwhile, six other close associates and advisers of Trump reportedly believe that he has not yet made a final decision. They said Trump often gives different messages to different people, meaning his position could change in the future.

One official said it would be premature to assume that a final decision has already been made, adding that those who believe so may either be reaching conclusions too early or may not fully understand Trump’s political approach.

JD Vance has also not announced his future political plans. According to people who have spoken with him, Vance has not yet made a decision about a potential 2028 presidential bid. A close associate said he plans to take some time after the birth of his fourth child on July 19 before deciding on his next move.

Another adviser said Trump still wants Marco Rubio to remain on the same ticket with JD Vance in the future. Trump has frequently praised Rubio, though it remains unclear whether Rubio would accept an offer to serve as Vance’s running mate.