Why Trump is keeping the MAGA succession race between Vance and Rubio wide open

Why Trump is keeping the MAGA succession race between Vance and Rubio wide open

US President Donald Trump has made it clear in public and private that US Vice President JD Vance is probably the favourite to carry the MAGA movement forward after him. But he has also gone out of his way to elevate Secretary of State Marco Rubio, one of his closest advisers, fuelling speculation about a quiet competition between the two men, the Wall Street Journal reported.

According to people close to Trump, the president has occasionally teased Vance and Rubio about which of them might be at the top of the Republican ticket in 2028. While Vance, 41, is widely seen as the front-runner in early polls, Rubio, 54, has not ruled out a presidential run of his own. Both men insist publicly that they are friends and allies, but Trump’s approach appears designed to make each “earn” his place as the MAGA successor.

Trump chose Vance as his running mate in 2024, seeing the “Hillbilly Elegy” author as a loyal messenger for the America First agenda. As vice president, Vance has taken on an unusually broad portfolio, from defending Trump in foreign policy disputes to managing Republican fundraising as finance chair of the RNC. He has also been tasked with promoting Trump’s controversial tax-and-spending bill, even casting its tiebreaking vote in the Senate — a move that could help him build donor support but also saddle him with political risk.

Rubio’s journey from Trump critic in 2016 to trusted adviser has been marked by policy alignment and personal rapport. Narrowly missing the vice presidency to Vance last year, he now serves as both secretary of state and national security adviser. He has worked to align himself with MAGA priorities, from striking deportation deals to taking hardline stances on student visas. His transformation has impressed Trump loyalists who once doubted him, and his close involvement in foreign policy has made him indispensable in the West Wing.

Both Vance and Rubio have had to navigate the challenge of advancing their own profiles without appearing disloyal. They work in close proximity, with adjoining offices, and coordinate on major issues like Ukraine and the Middle East alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff — a trio they jokingly call the “three amigos.” Their differing backgrounds and styles have converged in a shared commitment to Trump’s political and policy agenda.

Trump’s reluctance to name a successor reflects both his political style and his own ambitions. He has openly mused about serving a third term despite constitutional limits, and allies say he is not ready to contemplate the end of his political career. For now, his praise for both Vance and Rubio — and for other Republican hopefuls — signals that he intends to keep the field competitive and under his influence for as long as possible.