Trump floats Vance-Rubio ticket for 2028

President Donald Trump hinted Oct. 27 that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio could be his preferred successors when his term is up in 2028.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Japan, Trump praised both men as potential leaders and suggested they would make a formidable Republican ticket.

"We have great people. We have one of them standing right here," Trump said, motioning toward Rubio. "We have J.D., obviously, the vice president is great. I'm not sure anybody would run against those two. If they formed a group, it would be unstoppable."

Asked whether he might run again himself, Trump said: "Am I not ruling it out? You have to tell me. All I can tell you is we have a great group of people, which they don’t.” 

He added that the Democrats have Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, “a low-IQ person,” and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., “another low-IQ.”

Trump’s remarks come amid renewed speculation about whether he might attempt to serve beyond the two-term limit set by the 22nd Amendment. In a recent interview with the Economist, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon claimed that Trump is “going to get a third term.”

Still, Trump firmly rejected a legal maneuver to bypass the 22nd Amendment that one reporter asked about: running as vice president alongside Vance and then assuming office after Vance’s resignation.
“You’d be allowed to do that, but I wouldn’t do that. It’s too cute. I would rule that out,” he told reporters. “I think the people wouldn’t like that. It’s too cute.”