President Trump mentioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a possible successor, along with Vice President Vance, as he considers who would take over as leader of his “Make America Great Again,” or MAGA, movement.
Trump told NBC News’s Kristen Welker that it is too early to say who would become his successor, but he said Vance is doing a “fantastic job.” When asked whether Vance is at the top of his list, Trump said he could be, but he doesn’t want to get involved in that.
“I think [Vance is] a fantastic, brilliant guy,” he said in an interview on “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday. “Marco is great. There’s a lot of them that are great. I also see tremendous unity. But certainly you would say that somebody’s the VP, if that person is outstanding, I guess that person would have an advantage.”
“But I think the other people would all stay in unbelievably high positions,” he added. “But you know, it could be that he’d be challenged by somebody. We have a lot of good people in this party.”
Trump’s naming of Rubio comes on the heels of the secretary of State taking on an increasingly high profile. He was named interim national security adviser after Mike Waltz left his position on Thursday.
Trump said he believes the MAGA movement can survive without him as the leader, drawing strength from a “tremendous group of people.” He pointed specifically to Vance and Rubio but said he could name 10 to 20 people.
Trump previously said it was too early to name Vance as his successor but called him “very capable.” Early polls have shown Vance as a favorite to possibly be the GOP nominee in 2028.
Welker also pressed Trump on the ongoing murmurs of Trump possibly seeking a third term, which he hasn’t outright rejected. He said “so many people want me to do it,” but “to the best of my knowledge,” he can’t.
“I don’t know if that’s constitutional that they’re not allowing you to do it or anything else,” he said. “But there are many people selling the 2028 hat. But this is not something I’m looking to do. I’m looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody, ideally a great Republican, a great Republican to carry it forward.”
He said some supporters have come to him presenting ways he could do it, but he’s “not looking into that.”
The Constitution’s 22nd Amendment states that individuals can be elected to the office no more than twice, but some fringe theories have argued ways to get around it. Former White House aide Steve Bannon has argued that Trump will be elected to a third term and sworn in as president in 2029.
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