On Tuesday, President Donald Trump expressed that Vice President JD Vance might be the favored candidate to carry the “MAGA mantle” in the 2028 election.

His remarks came during a White House event where he signed an executive order to form a federal task force aimed at preparing for the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. When a reporter asked if Vance was the likely successor for the MAGA movement, Trump replied, “Well, perhaps, to all fairness, I think he’s the Vice President. I also think Marco is someone who connects well with JD. We have an incredible number of people.”

While Trump has ceased his formal endorsements, he noted that if the race for 2028 were to start today, Vance would likely be seen as an early frontrunner.

“It’s obviously too early to discuss specifics, but he’s doing a great job and seems to be quite interested at this point,” Trump commented. In a separate interview, Senator Marco Rubio praised Vance as a solid candidate for the Republicans in 2028, stating, “I think JD Vance is a great candidate… if he decides to do it.”

Political analyst Mark Halperin had previously suggested that both Vance and Rubio could headline Republican tickets in 2028. He referred to Rubio as “one of the stars” of Trump’s administration and indicated that a partnership with Vance would make sense for the party.

Halperin emphasized Rubio’s expertise and success in navigating various political challenges, stating that he could be a hero of the movement. He went on to assert that a Vance-Rubio ticket could be a strong possibility for the upcoming election.