As the United States heads toward the 2026 midterm elections, President Donald Trump appears to have found a new “game” for his advisers and close associates: JD Vance or Marco Rubio? that is, who would be the ideal candidate to be crowned as leader of the Republicans in 2028.
It is a game of balancing acts, personal ambitions, and strategic thinking, which reveals a great deal about the dynamics within the Republican Party and Trump’s political mindset.
It is important that Trump does not frame it as an official question, he approaches it in an informal, almost friendly manner, but the frequency of his questions to his associates shows that the issue seriously occupies him.
As sources in Axios report, Trump is focused on shaping his legacy, seeing in the figures of Vance and Rubio the most suitable representatives of his ideas and his politics.
He prefers Vance but...
Trump prefers JD Vance, something also reflected in his choice of him as the vice presidential candidate.
Nevertheless, he has repeatedly praised Rubio, both publicly and in private discussions, for his rising profile as United States Secretary of State and United States National Security Adviser.
Sources note that Trump enjoys the “game of internal confrontations,” which includes comparing the two and prompting his associates to express their views.
But that does not mean he is losing his confidence in Vance, a source emphasizes: “The Vance-Rubio ticket is the president’s dream for 2028, and to be clear, Vance comes first.”
The difference between the two candidates is evident: Vance already has a political team that can support his presidential run, while Rubio does not yet have that infrastructure.
Rubio has repeatedly stated that he fully supports Vance, as the two are close friends and worked together in the Senate, while their teams also maintain friendly relations.
This fact underscores the strategic dimension: choosing Vance as the top candidate does not create tension between them, but on the contrary can strengthen the Republicans.
Trump, for his part, has stated that Vance is a “more likely” successor to him because of his position as vice president.
However, he does not rule out the possibility of working with Rubio on the ticket, wanting to strengthen the party’s overall momentum without appearing to lose power.
Trump’s strategy is based on the perception that publicity and media presence determine political influence.
And here Rubio has the edge: as Secretary of State and National Security Adviser, he is constantly at the center of international events, while the role of vice president is, comparatively, more vague and less prominent.
The boxer and the velvet gloves
This element creates an interesting dilemma.
On the one hand, Vance carries the official “legacy” of the vice president and has political infrastructure for a 2028 campaign.
On the other, Rubio is the administration’s “public face,” who can boost the ticket’s visibility and bring diplomatic weight.
According to associates, one of the reasons Trump keeps praising Rubio is to lure him to join Vance’s side: “Marco, you really made yourself proud a few days ago in Munich, but don’t do better than that, because otherwise you’re out,” Trump is said to have joked.
Inside the White House, Trump’s analysis of the two candidates is characteristic: Vance is the “boxer,” the tough one who occasionally needs to be “held back,” while Rubio is the “diplomat,” who handles difficult situations with “velvet gloves,” but achieves results.
This image shows Trump’s logic: one brings strength and the ability to fight politically, the other brings visibility and international influence.
Together, they make up the “dream ticket” for 2028.
Strange game
As the midterms approach, we are expected to see Vance more on the front line.
As chairman of the Republican National Committee’s finance committee, he is planning campaigns across the country to support the party’s effort to retain control of the House.
His increased visibility will strengthen his profile and position him as a key candidate for the party, while simultaneously minimizing any impressions of internal rivalry with Rubio.
Vance himself, speaking to Fox News, stressed that the confrontation created by the media is exaggerated: “I think it’s so interesting that the media wants to create this conflict where in reality it doesn’t exist.”
This statement captures the strategic alliance and personal friendship between the two politicians, who appear set to form the pillars of the Republicans for the next elections.
Overall, Trump’s game with Vance and Rubio is not merely a discussion about who will lead in 2028.
It is a lesson in strategy, visibility, and political planning.
The president leverages personalities, publicity, and relationships of trust to strengthen the party’s overall influence, while simultaneously shaping the image of his own political legacy.
The Vance or Rubio dilemma, although it appears as a “strange game,” precisely reveals the way Trump understands politics: as a combination of power, publicity, and personal relationships, where selecting the “right combination” can determine the fate of a party and potentially an entire presidential era.
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