In the thick of speculation over who might make a run for the White House in 2028, Secretary of State Marco Rubio made headlines—not for announcing his own campaign, but for throwing his weight behind Vice President JD Vance.
Rubio Shifts the Focus from Himself to His Job
When asked directly whether he has presidential ambitions for 2028 during an interview with Fox News’ Lara Trump, Rubio stayed firmly on message.
He explained that, as Secretary of State, his job doesn’t allow him to engage in domestic politics—and frankly, he’s focused on staying in his role for the long haul.
“I want to do this job as long as the president allows me to,” Rubio said.
“If I get to stay here through January 2028, and we keep getting things done the way we have over the last six months, I’ll look back knowing I made a real impact.”
He added that simply serving in this capacity might be the high point of his career—and that’s something he’s content with.
“That would be the apex,” he said, describing the progress the administration is making as “special” and forward-looking.
He Praises JD Vance as a Future Republican Nominee
Even though he sidestepped questions about his own future, Rubio made it clear who he thinks would make a strong contender for the GOP: JD Vance.
“I think he’d be a great nominee if he decides he wants to do it,” Rubio said. “He’s doing a great job as vice president.
He’s a close friend, and I hope he intends to run.”
Rubio’s endorsement comes as JD Vance is already emerging as a frontrunner for the next presidential race.
Prediction site Polymarket gives Vance a 27 percent chance of winning the 2028 election—making him the current favorite.
Vance Pulls Ahead in Early Forecasts
According to the same market forecast, California Governor Gavin Newsom is in second place with 14 percent—a figure that’s dropped slightly in recent days.
Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez trails just behind at 10 percent.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stands at 8 percent, while Rubio himself holds a modest 6 percent chance.
A few long-shots remain in the running as well—including Donald Trump, who constitutionally cannot serve a third term, and his son Donald Jr., both hovering at just 3 percent.
Behind the Scenes, Vance Keeps the Trump Camp Together
While the spotlight’s been on Vance’s rising numbers, he’s been working behind the scenes to hold the Trump-aligned administration together.
Recent MAGA infighting sparked by the Epstein files scandal saw Vance take on the role of quiet peacekeeper.
When reports emerged that the Trump administration concluded there was no client list or additional Epstein-related documents, tensions grew within the White House.
Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel were reportedly upset with how the case was handled by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
In response, Vance stepped in personally, urging both men not to resign and to continue their work.
“He spoke with them directly,” a White House insider revealed, crediting him with diffusing the situation.
Vance Slams Media Coverage of Epstein Letter
When The Wall Street Journal published an alleged letter from Trump to Epstein—complete with an inappropriate drawing—Vance didn’t hold back.
He immediately came to the president’s defense, calling the story “complete and utter bulls**t” in a fiery social media post.
He also blasted the publication for not giving Trump a chance to see or respond to the letter before going to press, questioning their journalistic ethics.
“Doesn’t it violate some rule of journalistic ethics to publish a letter like this without showing it to the victim of this hit piece?” he wrote.
Celebrating Policy Wins While Eyeing the Future
Despite the chaos, Vance is keeping his messaging centered around policy achievements.
A source close to him said he’s been “focused on celebrating the administration’s victories,” particularly the passing of the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which they consider a historic legislative win.
“The White House is racking up wins on a daily basis,” the source added.
“There’s a lot the Vice President could be talking about that actually impacts Americans’ daily lives.”
While Vance has yet to declare a run, both his allies and his critics seem to agree: he’s already playing the long game—and he might just be the one to beat in 2028.
