Trump’s cryptic ‘Cubans love gold’ remark fuels fresh Marco Rubio 2028 speculation
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump may have offered his clearest hint yet about who he wants to carry the MAGA movement forward after he leaves office.
'Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump', an upcoming book by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, has reignited speculation that Secretary of State Marco Rubio could be Trump's preferred choice for the 2028 presidential race.
Trump’s Oval Office comment puts Marco Rubio at the center of succession talk
The moment reportedly came after Trump had finished redecorating the Oval Office with gold-colored embellishments and decorative touches. According to the book, some of the decorations were even attached using super glue.
During a conversation about whether a future president might remove the gilded additions, someone asked Trump if he worried that the next occupant of the Oval Office would undo his design choices.
Trump's response immediately raised eyebrows.
"Cubans love gold," he reportedly replied.
The comment was widely interpreted as a reference to Rubio, whose parents immigrated to the United States from Cuba before Fidel Castro took over in 1959.
Trump has repeatedly praised Marco Rubio's performance
The latest revelation comes amid growing evidence of Trump's admiration for Rubio.
Over the past year, Trump has repeatedly praised his secretary of state and elevated his standing inside the administration.
Earlier this year, Trump reportedly declared that Rubio would go down as "the best secretary of state in the country's history."
Rubio's influence has also expanded beyond traditional diplomatic responsibilities.
Trump handed him the additional role of national security adviser after dismissing Mike Waltz, giving him even greater visibility within the administration.
Those moves have only strengthened speculation that Rubio is becoming one of the president's most trusted advisers and a serious contender for the Republican nomination once Trump leaves office.
Even so, Trump has continued to avoid publicly naming a preferred successor, choosing instead to keep both Rubio and Vice President JD Vance in the conversation.
JD Vance's position appears less certain
While Rubio's standing appears to have risen, the same cannot be said with certainty for Vance.
The vice president has occasionally found himself in difficult political territory as Trump's foreign policy decisions have conflicted with Vance's long-held skepticism of overseas military involvement.
The book also describes an awkward Oval Office exchange that highlighted the uncertainty surrounding Vance's future role.
During a meeting attended by Trump, Vance, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, the president reportedly showed off "Trump 2028" baseball caps.
Jeffries then pointed toward Vance and asked, "How does he feel about that?"
Trump responded, "Ah, he's fine. He doesn't care," before adding, "We're giving him a little more training."
According to the book, Vance simply replied, "No comment."
Trump continues to keep Republicans guessing about 2028
Despite the growing attention on Rubio and Vance, Trump has shown little interest in settling the debate.
The book claims that the president frequently tells people he would like to see Rubio and Vance run together on a future Republican ticket. However, he reportedly never clarifies which man he envisions at the top.
Instead, Trump appears content to keep the competition alive.
According to the authors, he regularly asks Republican donors, advisers, and dinner guests whether Rubio or Vance should become the party's nominee in 2028.
