U.S. Vice President Dee Vance stated that he is not currently preparing for the 2028 presidential campaign. He also referred to Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a “very close friend.” Vance also responded to speculation about a possible rivalry with Rubio for future leadership of the Republican Party. Commenting on Donald Trump’s remarks about potential candidates for the 2028 election, he compared the situation to the presidential reality show The Apprentice.
During a press conference on Wednesday, the vice president emphasized that he is not planning a campaign for 2028 and considers Marco Rubio a “very dear friend.” Vance responded ironically to a question about the public polls Trump conducts among his advisors in an attempt to determine which of the two officials has a better chance at the presidency.
“I just don’t think the President of the United States is holding a televised contest to see who will succeed him as his ‘apprentice.’ That’s not at all what you’d expect from a president,” Vance joked, drawing laughter from the room.
At the same time, he added that it is perfectly natural for Trump to be interested in the party’s future and even to “tease” them with Rubio regarding political prospects.
Despite Vance’s attempts to downplay the situation, Donald Trump continues to fuel interest in the topic. According to The New York Times, last Sunday the president actively polled those around him, comparing the chances of Vance and Rubio. As early as May 12, Trump conducted an informal poll among those present at the White House and later called the potential pairing of these two politicians a “dream team.”
Although J.D. Vance is officially focused on his work in the current administration, his actions suggest he is preparing for future elections. As chairman of the Republican Party’s finance committee, he is actively traveling the country and building relationships with influential donors. In early May, Vance visited Iowa—the state that traditionally kicks off the U.S. presidential race—where he campaigned for local Republicans.
On the other hand, Marco Rubio, who has become the face of Trump’s foreign policy, also enjoys high approval ratings and support within the White House. However, the secretary of state has repeatedly hinted that he will not run against Vance in 2028. For now, both politicians are trying to project unity, despite Trump’s apparent desire to turn the selection of a successor into a public debate.
As a reminder, Trump deniesthat the war with Iran is over and is announcing new objectives.
Britain has called on Iran to fully open the Strait of Hormuz and restore international shipping, which has been operating intermittently since the situation escalated.
Recall that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not consider the war with Iran to be over.
Official Tehran has refused to participate in the second round of peace talks with the United States, which were to take place in Islamabad.
Iran rejected Trump’s claims about transferring uranium to the U.S. and accused him of manipulation.