President Trump raised eyebrows in an interview that aired Monday after he declined to call Vice President Vance as his automated successor forward of the 2028 presidential election.
“No, but he is very capable,” Trump instructed fox Information’ Bret Baier when requested if he seen Vance as his 2028 successor.
“I think you have a lot of very capable people,” the president stated. “So far I think he’s doing a fantastic job. It’s too early. We’re just starting.”
Trump is term-limited in 2028, having already served a non-consecutive time period as president. Whereas the subsequent presidential contest is 4 years away, Trump will possible be anticipated to make an endorsement shortly after the midterms subsequent 12 months.
Listed here are seven potential Republican successors to Trump.
JD Vance
Whereas Trump hesitated to name Vance his pure successor, the vice chairman is broadly seen as a future chief of the MAGA motion. Vance has additionally performed a key position as Trump’s liaison to the Senate throughout his Cupboard’s affirmation hearings, drawing on his previous relationships and expertise as senator from Ohio.
Moreover, Trump has tasked his vice chairman with a lot of key initiatives together with overseeing a possible future TikTok deal and hurricane restoration efforts. This week, Vance is on the worldwide stage, representing the U.S. at a synthetic intelligence summit in Paris and on the Munich Safety Convention.
Vance, 40, is seen as one of many youthful faces among the many GOP’s management. The vice chairman noticed his profile rise with the publication of his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” in 2016, which coincided with Trump’s entrance onto the political scene. Whereas Vance was initially a vocal critic of Trump, he spoke about his personal experiences rising up in Appalachia in explaining Trump’s rising assist amongst white working class and rural Individuals.
Vance regularly turned extra supportive of Trump within the lead-up to his run for Senate in Ohio, the place he defeated Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) by six factors. The then-senator was arguably considered one of Trump’s most vocal supporters throughout his time within the legislative physique.
Marco Rubio
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has additionally been floated as a possible successor to Trump, given his breadth of political and coverage expertise and broad attraction.
Rubio, 53, started his political profession in Florida’s Home of Representatives, rising to turn into Speaker of the chamber earlier than working for U.S. Senate. Throughout his tenure on Capitol Hill, Rubio served as rating member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Rubio notably had one of many smoothest affirmation processes within the second Trump administration, along with his Republican and Democratic colleagues unanimously voting to verify as secretary of State. Rubio was additionally in consideration to be Trump’s working mate final 12 months.
Although Rubio is serving in one of the vital high-profile positions within the Trump administration, he and the president had a rocky begin to their political relationship. Trump and Rubio each ran for president within the 2016 Republican major. The 2 infamously acquired right into a confrontation the place Rubio jabbed Trump’s “small hands” and Trump branded Rubio as “Little Marco.” Rubio dropped out of the race after shedding the Florida Republican major to Trump and later endorsed Trump as soon as he formally secured the presidential nomination.
Rubio’s background because the son of Cuban immigrants is seen as a significant asset amongst Republicans as they search to extend their margins with Latino voters. In 2024, Trump grew his assist with Latino voters and flipped Miami Dade County for the primary time since 1988. The county, which is Rubio’s residence county, has been seen as a check case for Republicans making inroads with Hispanic voters.
Ron DeSantis
Like Rubio, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) went head-to-head with Trump in a Republican presidential major and misplaced.However the governor continues to be stated to have future presidential aspirations.
Previous to working for governor, DeSantis, 46, served three phrases in Congress. He was elected governor in 2018 after receiving Trump’s backing and working a largely Trumpian marketing campaign.
DeSantis actually noticed his nationwide profile skyrocket throughout the coronavirus pandemic, when he inspired Florida officers to take a extra hands-off method to restrictions and have become a vocal opponent of Anthony Fauci, who was serving as director of Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Ailments.
Over two years after the pandemic, DeSantis simply gained reelection and noticed Florida Republicans make main electoral positive factors the identical 12 months. That momentum, coupled with reward from conservatives for his dealing with of the pandemic, propelled DeSantis to launch his presidential marketing campaign in Might of 2023.
The stress between Trump, who launched his presidential marketing campaign in November of 2022, devolved into an all out feud throughout the presidential major. DeSantis got here in a distant second to Trump throughout the Iowa Caucuses. DeSantis suspended his presidential bid shortly earlier than the New Hampshire major and endorsed Trump.
Trump and DeSantis have taken a lot of steps to fix their working relationship following the 2024 Republican major. The governor additionally acquired a talking slot on the Republican Nationwide Conference in July. In September, following the second assassination try in opposition to Trump at his West Palm Seashore golf course, the governor introduced the state was opening a prison investigation into the matter. Final month, DeSantis known as a particular legislative session in Florida in an effort to enact Trump’s immigration agenda.
Kristi Noem
Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem has additionally been floated as a possible successor to Trump given her standing as a high-profile determine inside the MAGA motion.
Previous to being confirmed as Trump’s Homeland Safety secretary, Noem served as governor of South Dakota for 5 years. Earlier than she was governor, she represented the state within the Home of Representatives for eight years.
Whereas Noem was initially crucial of Trump and endorsed Rubio in 2016, she has since turn into a loyal and vocal supporter of the president. Noem has continuously appeared on conservative media to defend Trump and tout her conservative positions.
Like DeSantis, she was a crimson state chief throughout the pandemic who resisted COVID-19 mandates. She has additionally championed a lot of conservative measures as governor, together with a legislation to limit abortion that doesn’t embody exceptions for rape and incest and solely to avoid wasting the lifetime of the mom. Noem additionally signed off on laws to ban surgical and nonsurgical gender-affirming look after minors and to limit transgender athletes.
Noem was floated as a possible working mate for Trump final 12 months as nicely.
Glenn Youngkin
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) was catapulted onto the nationwide stage when he defeated former Gov. Terry McAuliffe (R) within the race for the state’s governor’s mansion. Youngkin’s victory was seen as comeback for Republicans, going down one 12 months after former President Biden defeated Trump within the 2020 presidential election.
Whereas Youngkin and Trump discovered themselves on the identical aspect of most points, the gubernatorial candidate was cautious about how he approached Trump as a political presence on the marketing campaign path. Youngkin notably didn’t stump alongside Trump throughout the election as Democrats sought to tie him to the previous president. Trump formally backed Youngkin for the position.
Nevertheless, Youngkin, 58, has since constructed ties with Trump on and off of the marketing campaign path. The 2 leaders appeared collectively in public for the primary time in June as polls confirmed Trump gaining steam in Virginia, a state that has been reliably blue on the presidential stage in latest elections. Trump in the end misplaced the state to Vice President Harris, however improved his margins from 2020 to 2024.
Youngkin is seen as staunchly conservative however has a broad attraction, stretching outdoors of the MAGA motion. An Emerson Faculty ballot launched final month confirmed Youngkin with a 58 p.c approval score and a 37 p.c approval score in Virginia. Youngkin is term-limited and can’t run for a second consecutive time period in 2025.
The governor notably left the door open to the opportunity of working within the 2024 Republican presidential major however formally backed Trump’s bid for president in March.
Vivek Ramaswamy
Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has been quickly constructing his political profile since his 2024 Republican presidential major run. Nevertheless, not like Rubio and DeSantis, Ramaswamy prevented attacking Trump. Ramaswamy rapidly dropped out of the Republican major and endorsed Trump after the Iowa caucuses. Ramaswamy then turned considered one of Trump’s extra distinguished surrogates on the marketing campaign path.
Ramaswamy’s profile rose additional throughout the Trump transition when it was introduced he and Elon Musk would spearhead the incoming administration’s Division of Authorities Effectivity, or DOGE. However that position was short-lived. Ramaswamy departed the company final month and is predicted to launch a bid for Ohio governor.
Ramswamy, 39, would be part of Ohio Lawyer Basic Dave Yost (R) within the Republican major for governor. In contrast to Yost, Ramsawamy has by no means gained an election as a candidate and doesn’t have expertise serving in elected workplace. Nevertheless, Ramaswamy has acquired notable endorsements from Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague, together with Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). His staff has additionally introduced on a few of Vice President Vance’s high political advisers, which suggests he might be within the working for an endorsement from Trump or Vance.
But when Ramaswamy have been to launch a presidential bid in 2028, he would have to take action instantly after being elected governor. That would depart just below two years to launch a presidential marketing campaign whereas serving the primary half of his time period as governor.
Greg Abbott
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) is a recognizable face inside the Republican Get together, having served as governor of the Lone Star State since 2015. He had beforehand served as Texas lawyer basic since 2002.
Abbott is seen as a staunch Trump ally, notably on the important thing concern of immigration and securing the southern border. Like DeSantis in Florida, Abbott has sought to spice up his state’s working relationship with the Trump administration on immigration. Abbott met with Trump within the Oval Workplace final week.
The Texas governor additionally enjoys a comparatively excessive recognition score within the state. In line with a College of Texas/Texas Politics Undertaking ballot launched final 12 months, Abbott enjoys a 49 p.c approval score and a 40 p.c disapproval score.
Abbott isn’t term-limited as governor.
