During a discussion with NBC News, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed his backing of Vice President JD Vance amid speculation regarding a potential 2028 presidential primary challenge.
He stressed his commitment to fulfilling his obligations, fully supporting President Trump’s foreign policy initiatives. “I’m dedicated to this role for the next two and a half years, and I plan to complete my responsibilities,” Rubio stated.
Rubio went on to praise Vance’s potential candidacy, calling him a good friend and a strong candidate. “If JD chooses to run, I’ll be the first to support him. I truly believe he would excel as a presidential nominee,” Rubio conveyed.
While maintaining his focus on current duties, Rubio hinted at future pursuits beyond the political arena after the president’s term concludes. “Having served since 2010, I’d like to explore other avenues eventually, though I regard public service as a great honor,” he mentioned in his conversation with NBC’s Tom Llamas.
Rubio’s recent comments are consistent with his previous endorsements of a possible Vance campaign. Despite his own presidential bid in 2016, he has minimized expectations for another run in the immediate future.
“If Vance decides to run, I believe he would make an excellent nominee,” he expressed when questioned about his own ambitions last year.
🚨 AWESOME! Sec. Marco Rubio says he’ll be the FIRST person to endorse JD Vance if he runs for president in 2028
“JD is a very good friend of mine. If JD runs for president, I think he’d be a PHENOMENAL candidate.”
“I’ve said publicly and I’ll say it again, I’ll be the FIRST… pic.twitter.com/6aNxAjN4k7
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 16, 2026
Current polling for the upcoming Republican nomination indicates Vice President Vance leading in most surveys, with Rubio consistently in second place. As per RealClearPolling data from January 22 to April 26, the RCP Average shows Vance at 45.5 percent, followed by Donald Trump Jr. at 14.8 percent, Rubio at 14.0 percent, and Ron DeSantis with 7.5 percent.
Despite this, Rubio retains a fervent base encouraging him to consider a run. A recent Atlas Intel poll found Rubio leading the hypothetical Republican primary with 45.4 percent against Vance’s 29.6 percent, while DeSantis trailed at 11.2 percent. This marked the first survey indicating Rubio in the lead, a shift from previous polls favoring Vance by substantial margins.
