Trump says Vance and Rubio would be a ‘great team’ in 2028
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has voiced support for the prospect of Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio joining forces in the 2028 presidential election, describing the pair as a potentially unbeatable Republican ticket.
Speaking on the New York Post’s Pod Force One podcast, Trump said he was impressed by both leaders and believed they could form a powerful political partnership after his presidency.
“I like them both, and I like them together,” Trump said. “It’d be great. I don’t know how you beat them if they're together. That would be a great team. JD and Marco would be a great team.”
The president added that any future political arrangement would ultimately depend on the two men themselves. “I don’t know, you know, they have to agree to it, right?” he said.
Republican succession talk gains momentum
Trump’s comments are likely to fuel speculation about the Republican Party’s post-Trump leadership and the race to succeed him.
Both Vance and Rubio have emerged as prominent figures within the administration and the broader Republican movement.
Trump has repeatedly praised the two men in recent months and has previously identified them as potential future presidential contenders.
Vance, who serves as vice president, has become one of Trump’s closest political allies, while Rubio has played a central role in shaping the administration’s foreign policy agenda as secretary of state.
Although neither has formally announced plans for 2028, Trump’s endorsement is expected to intensify discussion about the party’s next generation of leadership.
Trump praises acting intelligence chief
During the interview, Trump also defended his decision to appoint Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence.
Asked why he selected Pulte for the role, Trump described him as “a very talented guy” and expressed confidence in his leadership abilities.
The president suggested that Pulte could move quickly on efforts to declassify government records and intelligence materials.
When asked whether the acting intelligence chief would accelerate declassification efforts, Trump responded simply: “Yeah.”
Confidence in acting attorney general
Trump also offered strong praise for Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, signaling that the former federal prosecutor could eventually secure the position on a permanent basis.
“I think he will,” Trump said when asked whether Blanche would ultimately become attorney general.
The president explained that he initially wanted to evaluate Blanche’s performance in the acting role before making a longer-term decision.
“I wanted to see how he’s received, you know, we put him as acting, and he’s done a very good job,” Trump said.
Blanche was appointed acting attorney general after Trump dismissed former Attorney General Pam Bondi in April, a move that marked a significant shake-up within the administration.
