President Donald Trump indicated on August 6, 2025, that Vice President J.D. Vance is “most likely” to succeed him as leader of the Make America Great Again movement, marking his strongest public signal of support to date .

Trump also floated the possibility of a future Republican ticket featuring Vance alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio .

Trump’s remarks stopped short of a formal endorsement for the Republican nomination in 2028, but conveyed clear preference.

Earlier this year, he had described Vance as “very capable” and said it was “too early” to name a successor .

Vance, 40, a former U.S. senator from Ohio and ex–Marine, assumed the vice presidency in January 2025.

He has taken on a prominent role in the administration, including leading a confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an Oval Office meeting and delivering a critical address at the Munich Security Conference in February 2025 .

In March 2025, Vance was appointed finance chair of the Republican National Committee, the first sitting vice president to hold that position.

That move elevated his visibility within the party and deepened his ties to key Republican donors .

Marco Rubio, who serves as Secretary of State and acting National Security Adviser and Archivist, was mentioned by Trump as a potential future running mate for Vance .

Rubio has downplayed his own presidential ambitions, saying he remains focused on his current public service roles .

Despite longstanding speculation, Trump confirmed in a May 2025 interview that he will serve only two terms and is unlikely to seek a third, citing constitutional limits, while still referencing Vance and Rubio as future possibilities .

Trump’s remarks came amid heavy speculation over third‑term plans following sales of “Trump 2028” merchandise and political commentary .