Trump Picks His Successor

President Trump said he’s not ready to name a successor to lead the Make America Great Again movement, but he pointed to both Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance as potential contenders, describing them as strong and capable figures within his administration.

In a televised interview aired Sunday, Trump told NBC’s Kristen Welker that while it’s too early to make a decision, he thinks highly of Vance, calling him “fantastic” and “brilliant.” When pressed on whether Vance was his top pick, Trump kept his options open, saying, “He could be, but I don’t want to get involved in that.”

Trump also praised Rubio, who has recently taken on additional responsibilities, including a temporary appointment as national security adviser following the departure of Mike Waltz. Trump acknowledged Rubio’s rising influence, saying he’s “great” and part of what he described as a broader, united Republican bench.

“There’s a lot of them that are great,” Trump said. “I also see tremendous unity. But certainly, you would say that somebody’s the VP if that person is outstanding, I guess that person would have an advantage.”

Still, Trump noted that the field of possible successors is wide. “It could be that he’d be challenged by somebody. We have a lot of good people in this party,” he added, hinting that others in his circle could rise to the occasion in future elections.

Trump emphasized that the strength of the MAGA movement doesn’t rely solely on him. He said the movement would endure thanks to what he described as a “tremendous group of people,” including Vance and Rubio, and even suggested there were 10 to 20 others he could name who were positioned for leadership.

While Trump hasn’t officially endorsed anyone as his heir, his continued praise for Vance who has gained attention as a leading conservative voice keeps speculation alive about the vice president’s prospects in 2028. Early polling already shows Vance as one of the GOP’s most watched names for the next cycle.