Trump Questions 41-Year-Old Vance's 2028 Suitability as Rubio Emerges in Private Polling
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 30
Trump Questions 41-Year-Old Vance's 2028 Suitability as Rubio Emerges in Private Polling
8 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 30
Private conversations with aides and allies show Trump repeatedly asking whether Vice President JD Vance has what it takes to win the 2028 Republican nomination, then saying he is unconvinced.
Trump is still elevating the 41-year-old vice president in major decisions and public assignments, but he has also criticized Vance's reliance on Trump's backing, his vacations and his early opposition to striking Iran.
Marco Rubio has become Vance's clearest internal benchmark as Trump informally polls people around him on whether they prefer the vice president or the secretary of state as the party's next standard-bearer.
For Vance, the scrutiny matters because he is widely seen as the default Republican front-runner for 2028, and his path depends heavily on inheriting Trump's political movement and endorsement.
How will the failed Iran negotiations impact Vice President Vance's standing within the current administration?
Why does President Trump assign critical tasks to a vice president whose leadership he openly questions?