While speaking with NBC News, President Donald Trump shared his thoughts on the strength of a hypothetical Vance-Rubio presidential ticket in 2028.
When asked about the future, Trump expressed confidence in both men without making a definitive endorsement for one over the other or specifying ticket order. Trump has largely remained vague on the topic, but indicated he would be inclined to endorse a successor in the Republican primaries if he chooses to get involved.
“JD is fantastic, and Marco is fantastic,” the president told NBC News. When asked how the two contrast in terms of style, Trump expressed confidence that both possess great communication skills that would come across well in long-form podcasts and interviews, including the “Joe Rogan Experience.”
“You know, you can see the style yourself. But they’re both very capable,” he said.
Trump also commented on the possibility of both Vance and Rubio being included on the same ticket. “I do think this: The combination of JD and Marco would be very hard to be beaten, I think,” he said.
Trump has refrained from naming an exact successor when asked about the topic over the last several months. The interview does build on earlier remarks, such as those aboard Air Force One this past October, when Trump said a Vance-Rubio pairing would be “unstoppable” and that “I’m not sure if anybody would run against those two. If they ever formed a group it’d be unstoppable.”
In a May 2025 “Meet the Press” interview, he called Vance “fantastic” and “brilliant,” while noting it was too early to name a successor. He later stated that Vance would be “probably favored” and once again floated the idea of a Vance-Rubio ticket in a separate interview this past August.
Rubio has publicly supported Vance as a potential nominee. “I think JD Vance would be a great nominee if he decides he wants to do that,” he said when asked about his own presidential ambitions last year.
Rubio previously sought the Republican nomination for president in 2016, but has repeatedly downplayed the prospect of another run in the near future.
