Trump Reveals to Donors Who He’s Backing For 2028

President Donald Trump has repeatedly delighted in provoking Democrats and Never Trump Republicans by floating the possibility of seeking a third term in 2028—sometimes while wearing a red “Trump 2028” cap.

The Constitution limits presidents to two elected terms, however, making the more consequential question who Trump will support to continue his America First agenda after he leaves office.

Vice President JD Vance has long appeared to be the most natural successor, although Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also emerged as a prominent possibility after assuming several major responsibilities within the administration.

Trump reportedly provided donors with his clearest answer yet during an Oval Office meeting two weeks ago.

“At the end of the day, we need to elect JD,” an anonymous source first told the Washington Post.

The reported endorsement strengthens Vance’s position as the early favorite for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, even though the race is unlikely to begin in earnest until after the 2026 midterm elections.

Vance leads many preliminary national polls testing the potential Republican field. Rubio, however, has gained ground in several national surveys, early-state polls, and conservative straw polls.

The New York Post cautioned that Trump’s private remarks should not necessarily be interpreted as a definitive choice between Vance and Rubio. Nevertheless, the statement offers a rare indication of how the president is thinking about the Republican Party’s future.

During a donor event Wednesday in Las Vegas, Trump mentioned Vance while praising the vice president’s efforts to combat government fraud.

“He’s doing a great job,” Trump said of the vice president.

Vance was selected as Trump’s running mate in 2024 and has become one of the administration’s most forceful defenders. His populist economic message, support for border security, and willingness to challenge Washington’s foreign-policy establishment have helped position him as a leading voice within the America First movement.

Rubio has also become one of Trump’s most trusted Cabinet officials.

The former Florida senator competed against Trump for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination before joining his second-term administration as secretary of state. Since then, he has assumed multiple senior national-security responsibilities and played a central role in diplomatic efforts involving Venezuela, Cuba, and the Middle East.

Rubio finished a close second behind Vance in the 2028 Republican presidential straw poll conducted at the Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this year.

Those results, combined with recent polling, have fueled speculation about a possible nomination contest between the two men. Both have publicly described each other as friends, and Rubio has said he would not seek the Republican nomination if Vance entered the race.

Vance emphasized the administration’s unity during an exclusive Wednesday interview with Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle.”

“The president runs this administration: He is the very top of the administration; he makes orders,” Vance said.

“We, of course, have debates and conversations about what exactly we should do, but when the president of the United States makes a decision, we’re unified in this administration in carrying out that mission,” he added.

Trump has repeatedly praised Rubio’s performance, saying earlier this year that he could become “the greatest secretary of state in history.”

Rather than presenting Vance and Rubio as political rivals, Trump has previously suggested placing them together on the 2028 Republican ticket.

The president described a potential Vance-Rubio combination as “unstoppable,” although he declined to specify which man should occupy the top position.

Trump nevertheless acknowledged last year that Vance was “most likely” his political heir because “in all fairness, he’s the vice president.”

Vance continues to avoid publicly discussing a 2028 campaign. Behind the scenes, however, he has assembled a network of experienced political advisers capable of providing the foundation for a national presidential organization.

Rubio has not developed a comparable political operation, with his responsibilities as secretary of state requiring extensive international travel and sustained attention to the administration’s foreign-policy agenda.

The Republican nomination remains years away, and neither man has formally declared his candidacy. Still, Trump’s reported message to donors suggests that Vance currently holds the clearest path to inheriting both the president’s endorsement and leadership of the America First coalition.