Trump Hints at Vance as MAGA Successor

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President Donald Trump has hinted that Vice President JD Vance may be the leading candidate to carry forward his “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) legacy, while also leaving room for Secretary of State Marco Rubio to play a key role in the movement.

When asked Tuesday about a potential MAGA successor, Trump responded, “Well, I think most likely. In all fairness, he’s the vice president.” He added, however, that it was “too early” to make a definitive statement. Trump praised Vance’s performance in the administration, noting, “He’s doing a great job and he would probably be the favorite at this point,” according to a report from CNN.

The President also mentioned that Rubio could still be part of the future MAGA vision, saying, “Marco can also get together with JD in some form.” Despite these remarks, Trump stopped short of making a formal endorsement for the 2028 race.

Vance, 40, a former Marine and U.S. Senator from Ohio, has played a growing role in Trump’s second administration. His rapid rise in national politics and close alignment with the President’s agenda have fueled speculation about his prospects.

Rubio, for his part, recently downplayed questions about a 2028 presidential run. In an interview with Fox News, the Secretary of State said he is focused on his current responsibilities but acknowledged that “you never know what the future holds.” Rubio and Vance were both considered for the vice presidency during Trump’s 2024 campaign and now work together to support the President’s policies.

“Marco is incredibly competent and reliable, and he’s also one of my closest friends in the administration,” Vance told CNN last month.

This is the most direct signal yet from Trump regarding Vance’s potential to lead the MAGA movement into the future. In previous comments earlier this year, the President had named both Vance and Rubio as possible successors without favoring one over the other.

In a separate interview with CNBC, Trump appeared to rule out a bid for a third term in office. When asked about the possibility, he said, “No, probably not,” before adding, “I’d like to.”

Trump currently serves his second, non-consecutive term as President, having held the office previously from 2017 to 2021. The U.S. Constitution restricts presidents to two terms. A third-term run would require a constitutional amendment, a process that demands support from two-thirds of both houses of Congress or a convention of two-thirds of state legislatures, followed by ratification from three-fourths of the states.

During the same interview, Trump warned of a possible steep increase in tariffs on Indian imports, potentially exceeding the current 25%. No specifics or timelines were provided.