U.S. President Donald Trump has named Vice President JD Vance as the successor to the "Make America Great Again (MAGA)" movement, sparking discussions about a power reorganization within the Republican Party surrounding the next presidential election.
On the 5th (local time), President Trump met with reporters at the White House and noted, "Vance is the most likely successor." He continued, "To be fair, he is the vice president. He is doing a great job and, at this point, would be the most favored person." This was the first clear endorsement of Vance as a potential candidate for the next presidential election.
Trump also mentioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stating, "Rubio is someone who can work with Vance in any capacity." He mentioned other aspirants present at the White House event, including Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi, saying, "Some of the people on stage are really excellent."
This statement came shortly after President Trump drew a line on the possibility of running for reelection, saying, "Probably not." As a result, there are interpretations that the political lineage of the MAGA movement may solidify around Vance.
Vance has been serving as a key messenger for foreign and defense policy in the Trump administration's second term since he was nominated as the vice presidential running mate in last year's election. U.S. media, including CNN, regard him as "Trump's close aide and foreign policy strategist."
Another potential candidate mentioned is Secretary of State Rubio, a Florida senator and a key player who has held both the roles of Secretary of State and National Security Advisor in the administration. He is also the first person to hold both positions since Henry Kissinger. In an interview with Fox News last month, Rubio dismissed rumors of a presidential run, saying, "Vance is a great vice president and my close friend," but left the door open by stating, "The future is uncertain."
Vance also stated in a CNN interview, "Rubio is a capable and trustworthy individual and one of my closest colleagues in the administration." The two have competed for the vice presidency in 2024 but later built a cooperative relationship, becoming two main pillars of the core MAGA alliance.
In the political arena, as Trump has openly mentioned the succession structure, it is speculated that the power dynamics centered around Vance could be organized swiftly ahead of the 2028 election. Particularly, if an alliance between Vance and Rubio materializes, it is analyzed that they have a high chance of securing leadership in the competition surrounding the legitimate line to inherit Trump's political legacy.
Until earlier this year, President Trump had drawn the line by saying, "Vance is very capable, but it's still early to name him as a successor," but recently he has been assessing Vance with increasingly confident tones. This is also interpreted as a signal of generational change in the party's leadership related to the future direction of the Trump faction within the Republican Party.