President Trump has signaled that Vice President J.D. Vance is the leading candidate to inherit the MAGA mantle.
Donald Trump has indicated that J.D. Vance is the “most likely” choice to succeed him and potentially become the Republican presidential nominee in 2028.
During a press briefing on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., Trump was asked by a reporter if he would endorse Vance, the former Ohio senator, as the obvious successor to the MAGA movement.
“I think most likely, in all fairness. He’s the vice president,” Trump responded, while also noting it was premature to decide on a nominee.
”He’s doing a great job and he would probably be the favorite at this point,” the president stated.
Trump also mentioned the possibility of Vance joining forces with Secretary of State Marco Rubio – who previously ran for president in 2016 – on a future Republican ticket.
When questioned earlier in the day on CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’ about a potential reelection bid, Trump replied, “No, probably not.”
“I’d like to run. I have the best poll numbers I’ve ever had.”
JUST IN: President Donald Trump says Vice President JD Vance will “most likely” be the MAGA heir for 2028, floats Marco Rubio as a running mate.
Doocy: “You could clear the entire Republican field right now. Do you agree that the heir apparent to MAGA is JD Vance?”
Trump:…
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg)
Trump has consistently dismissed the idea of running for a third term, despite earlier allusions to it.
In April, he stated that his supporters were urging him to seek another term, but acknowledged the difficulty of changing existing election rules, which currently limit US presidents to two terms.
Earlier in the year, Republican Congressman Andy Ogles proposed a constitutional amendment that would permit presidents to serve a third term, provided those terms were not consecutive. The proposal has not yet gained significant support.
“`