Trump not decided between Vance and Rubio as possible successors - NYT

US President Donald Trump has not yet decided who he would like to see as his political successor - Vice President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

This is reported by the New York Times.

According to the publication, in conversations with advisers, Trump has repeatedly asked whether Vance has what it takes to "go all the way", and at the same time admitted that he himself is not sure about this.

Despite doubts, the President involves Vance in making important decisions and gives him the opportunity to publicly prove himself on the eve of the 2028 presidential election.

Assessing the vice president's performance, Trump often compares his achievements with his own and emphasizes that without his support, Vance would not have been able to achieve his current position. Among other things, the President draws attention to the number of vacations that Vance takes, noting that he himself usually does not do this.

In November 2025, during a breakfast with Republican senators, Trump also criticized Vance, comparing him to officials working for Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"Why don't you behave like that? JD doesn't behave like that! JD is all in talks! I want to be like that for at least a few days. Okay, JD?" he said then.

At the same time, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to the publication, spends more time with Trump and regularly accompanies him on flights on the presidential plane Air Force One.

When asked by reporters again who could continue his political course, Trump replied that "it would be someone very important."

Recall that in February of this year, Trump, who named Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as his possible successors, refused to single out anyone. He noted that one of them was "more diplomatic." Nevertheless, before the visit to China, Trump prepared written instructions for Vice President JD Vance in case he had to take over the duties of the head of state.