President Donald Trump appears to have indicated who he would like to see succeed him as the face of the GOP and potentially in the White House, according to a Washington Post report cited by the Daily Caller.

During a recent private meeting with donors in the Oval Office, Trump reportedly said, “at the end of the day, we need to elect JD,” referring to Senator JD Vance. For months, Trump has polled allies and staff on whether Vance or Senator Marco Rubio should succeed him.

A source close to the administration told the Daily Caller that Vance "has all the bona fides of Trump, with a charm and disarming personality that makes it hard to taint him with the brashness and sometimes undesirable qualities of the President." The source added that Vance, like Governor Ron DeSantis, has an ability to evangelize MAGA that attracts rather than repels supporters.

Another source described Vance as the "natural pick," noting that he already holds office. After making the Oval Office comment, Trump reportedly asked two guests aboard Marine One whether Vance or Rubio should run.

While Trump has shown some interest in the 2028 election, even joking about a third term, a second source said the campaign team is currently focused on the 2026 midterms. Trump himself acknowledged hearing about the report but said, “No… I think he’s great, but we’re way too early to even be thinking about that.”

Sources