GOP Donors Working to Crown Marco Rubio as 2028 Candidate

Rubio's rising influence outshines VP Vance as Trump praises him as potential 'greatest secretary of state'

Mar. 17, 2026 at 6:24am

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Republican donors are quietly working to boost Secretary of State Marco Rubio's potential 2028 presidential campaign, as he takes a more prominent role in the Trump administration compared to Vice President JD Vance. While Trump has not publicly endorsed either Rubio or Vance, he has praised Rubio as potentially the 'greatest secretary of state in history', fueling speculation about the GOP's 2028 ticket.

Why it matters

Rubio's growing influence and popularity within the Trump administration could position him as the frontrunner for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, potentially overshadowing Vice President Vance. This behind-the-scenes maneuvering by GOP donors highlights the ongoing power struggles and jockeying for position within the party as it looks toward the next election cycle.

The details

Republican donors supportive of Rubio have quietly started planning how to boost his potential 2028 presidential campaign, as he takes on a more central role in the Trump administration compared to Vice President Vance. While Trump has not publicly endorsed either Rubio or Vance, he has repeatedly praised Rubio, saying he could go down as the 'greatest secretary of state in history'. Rubio, who ran unsuccessfully for the 2016 GOP nomination, has been the public face of the administration's foreign policy, explaining U.S. actions in Venezuela, Iran, and other global issues.

  • More than ten years ago, Rubio launched a presidential campaign for the 2016 elections.
  • In early January, Rubio explained the U.S. purpose in capturing Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro.
  • On February 28, Rubio discussed the U.S. decision to strike against Iran.

The players

Marco Rubio

The current Secretary of State under the Trump administration, who has taken on a prominent role in explaining the administration's foreign policy decisions.

JD Vance

The current Vice President under the Trump administration, who has not taken a direct role in the Iran War or other global issues that Rubio has been at the forefront of.

Donald Trump

The current President of the United States, who has praised Rubio and suggested he could become the 'greatest secretary of state in history'.

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What they’re saying

“I have a prediction that Marco will go down — I mean this — as the greatest secretary of state in the history of the United States. I believe that. Who the hell thought this was going to happen? Marco, right? And now, I'm saying he's going to go down as the greatest. He will. He was always smart and sharp, and people respect him.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States

What’s next

The White House has not clarified who President Trump is eyeing for the 2028 Republican presidential ticket, as GOP donors work behind the scenes to boost Rubio's potential campaign.

The takeaway

Rubio's rising influence and prominence within the Trump administration, compared to Vice President Vance, has fueled speculation about the GOP's 2028 presidential ticket. This behind-the-scenes maneuvering by Republican donors highlights the ongoing power struggles and jockeying for position within the party as it looks toward the next election cycle.