美国总统特朗普在私人场合向捐赠人表示希望副总统万斯赢得2028年总统选举。[1] 特朗普在大约两周前与捐赠人的椭圆形办公室会议上表示："At the end of the day, we need to elect JD"[1]，表明了他对万斯的支持倾向。
然而，特朗普在公开场合仍保持低调态度，继续在万斯和国务卿鲁比奥之间制造竞争氛围。[1] 一名特朗普顾问表示，特朗普已私下确定万斯将是共和党继任者，但认为目前"太早"确定万斯何时宣布或特朗普何时公开背书。[1] 不过，六名特朗普圈内人士警告称，他们不确定特朗普是否已最终确定万斯，指出特朗普对不同人说不同的话，可能改变2028年背书决定。[1]
鲁比奥作为国务卿和国家安全顾问，在法律和后勤上无法在任职期间竞选总统。[1] 万斯的第四个孩子于7月19日出生，他表示将在此之后再做决定。[1] 万斯在6月接受CBS采访时表示，特朗普将对他做出的任何决定"非常支持"。[1]
President Trump has privately told donors that he wants Vice President JD Vance to win the 2028 presidential election, according to remarks made during an Oval Office meeting approximately two weeks ago[1]. In those discussions, Trump stated: "At the end of the day, we need to elect JD"[1]. However, publicly, Trump continues to preserve uncertainty about his preferred successor, maintaining competitive dynamics between Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio[1].
Trump's advisers offer conflicting assessments of his intentions. One adviser close to the president claims Trump has already privately decided that Vance will be the Republican successor, though this person cautioned it remains "too early" to determine when Vance might announce his candidacy or when Trump will publicly endorse him[1]. Conversely, six people within Trump's inner circle have expressed doubt about whether Trump has truly settled on Vance, noting that the president conveys different messages to different people and may alter his 2028 endorsement decision[1]. Vance announced that his fourth child was born on July 19 and indicated he will make his own decision about a presidential run following that event[1].
The apparent competition between Vance and Rubio as potential successors carries a practical constraint: Rubio, serving as Secretary of State and National Security Adviser, is legally and logistically unable to run for president while holding these positions[1]. Vance has previously suggested openness to Trump's guidance, telling CBS in June that Trump would be "very supportive" of whatever decision he makes[1].