Trump Tells Donors 'We Need to Elect JD' as 2028 GOP Succession Race Heats Up
By John Damon | Just The News Iowa
President Donald Trump has privately signaled to donors that Vice President JD Vance may be his preferred successor, even as Secretary of State Marco Rubio continues to close the gap in early 2028 Republican primary polls. A source with direct knowledge of the comments confirmed to Fox News Digital that Trump told donors during an Oval Office meeting roughly two weeks ago, “At the end of the day, we need to elect JD.”
The remark, first reported by The Washington Post, offers a rare glimpse into Trump’s long-term thinking about the 2028 race. While the president has publicly stayed coy about whether he will back Vance or Rubio, the private comment suggests a lean toward the man he chose as his running mate in 2024.
What Trump Told Donors About Vance
Trump made the comment during a meeting with donors in the Oval Office, according to a source who asked to remain anonymous to speak freely. The president did not publicly repeat the sentiment during a Las Vegas donor speech Wednesday night, where he only briefly praised Vance for leading “the war on fraud.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and Vance’s office for comment Thursday morning. The White House did not immediately respond.
Vance vs. Rubio: The 2028 GOP Primary Picture
Vance remains the clear hypothetical frontrunner, but Rubio has narrowed the gap in national polls and surveys in key early primary states, including Iowa. At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) earlier this year, Rubio came in a close second to Vance in the closely watched 2028 Republican presidential nomination straw poll.
The latest surveys and straw poll results are fueling intrigue over what some in the Republican Party see as a budding rivalry between Vance and Rubio, who describe each other as friends.
“The president runs this administration,” Vance told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham in an exclusive interview Wednesday night. “We, of course, have debates and conversations about what exactly we should do, but when the president of the United States makes a decision, we're unified in this administration in carrying out that mission.”
Trump’s Mixed Signals on a Successor
Despite the private comment, Trump has also lavishly praised Rubio for his work in peacemaking efforts in Venezuela, Cuba, and the Middle East, while simultaneously serving as national security advisor. The president earlier this year declared that Rubio would go down as “the greatest secretary of state in history.”
Trump has also promoted a Vance-Rubio ticket as “unstoppable” — stopping short of explicitly saying who should be at the top of the ticket. Last year, Trump said Vance is “most likely” his heir “because, in all fairness, he's the vice president.”
At the White House Correspondents Dinner last month, Trump joked about running for a fourth term, donning a “Trump 2028” hat — a troll aimed at his critics.
Vance’s Political and Financial Advantages
Vance has built a political team of advisors who, if he runs as expected, would quickly build out a presidential campaign. He also serves as the RNC’s finance chair, giving him access to more than $128 million in cash on hand, according to the June Federal Elections Commission filing.
“Vice President Vance has been a fundraising powerhouse for the RNC, supercharging our war chest as we head into the midterms,” RNC Chair Joe Gruters told Fox News Digital. “He's held record-breaking events across the country and brought new and longtime donors together with his ability to connect every corner of the America First movement.”
Rubio, by contrast, does not have a similar group of political aides, and he has said he will back Vance if the vice president launches a 2028 campaign.
Donor Tensions and Trump’s Political Games
Republican sources confirmed to Fox News earlier this year that a group of GOP donors supporting Rubio is quietly exploring ways to boost his political profile — a move that has not sat well with some in Trump’s political orbit.
“Vice President Vance is the future of the Republican Party, and Marco Rubio is one of his closest friends in the administration,” an operative in Trump’s political orbit told Fox News Digital. “The divisive stories from some donors trying to cause chaos are not helpful.”
Trump more recently questioned White House staff about the two possible contenders during a flight aboard Marine One, according to the Post. While one adviser told the newspaper that Trump has privately settled on Vance, six other advisers and allies said they were not convinced the president had made up his mind.
Those advisers noted that Trump sometimes gives different signals to different audiences and could change his position before the 2028 campaign begins. His aides also broadly expect him to delay any formal endorsement, in part to avoid diminishing his own influence during the remainder of his presidency.
What the 2026 Midterms Mean for the Race
The 2026 midterms could shape the emerging succession contest. Republican losses could encourage additional candidates to enter the race and make it easier for them to criticize Trump’s administration or challenge his preferred successor. A strong performance, by contrast, could strengthen Trump’s ability to shape the 2028 field.
Vance has spent much of his vice presidency building relationships with Republican donors and activists. He is closely associated with the younger, populist wing of the MAGA coalition and has taken on political and policy assignments that have helped raise his profile.
Rubio historically has had stronger ties to traditional Republican donors, while Vance has deeper support among the party’s newer populist base.
What Vance Says About 2028
Vance admitted to Ingraham that it is his “job” to take criticism, particularly if it absorbs pressure from the president.
“It's my job, Laura,” Vance said. “If the worst thing that happens is I take flak for the president to make his administration more successful, I'll be happy about that.”
Vance did not talk about whether he will run. He said in June that he planned to discuss his political future with his wife after the midterm elections and has maintained that he remains focused on serving as vice president. People close to Vance previously told the Post that he intended to wait until after the birth of his fourth child before seriously considering a campaign. The child was born July 19.
As the 2028 race looms, Iowa voters — who play a critical role in the first-in-the-nation caucuses — will be watching closely to see which candidate earns Trump’s endorsement and the support of the party’s grassroots.