- Trump asked attendees to choose between Vance and Rubio.
- The crowd cheered for both Republican leaders.
- Trump called the pair a “dream team.”
- He said neither candidate has his endorsement.
- Rubio and Vance are seen as key Republican figures.
President Donald Trump suggested vice president J D Vance and secretary of state Marco Rubio could make a strong team for the 2028 presidential election. He made the remarks during a dinner for law enforcement leaders at the White House Rose Garden on Monday evening.
Trump spoke about the future Republican race and mentioned both leaders while addressing the gathering.
“Is it gonna be JD? Is it gonna be someone else? I don't know,” Trump said.
The president then carried out an informal poll among the attendees. His comments drew laughter from the audience.
“Who likes JD Vance?” and “Who likes Marco Rubio?”, he asked as attendees cheered for their favourite choice.
“Sounds like a good ticket,” Trump added, while also making clear that he was not officially backing either man.
“That was a perfect ticket. By the way, I do believe that's a dream team, but these are minor details. That does not mean you have my endorsement under any circumstance.”
“I think it sounds like presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate,” the president said.
Trump is known to raise the Vance-Rubio question in conversations with people close to him in the administration. He is believed to be trying to understand the mood within Republican circles.
Vance is a first-term Senator from Ohio. Trump selected him as his running mate in the 2024 presidential election.
Rubio had earlier entered the 2016 presidential race but later withdrew after losing to Trump in the Republican primary. Rubio, a three-term Senator from Florida, joined the Trump administration as Secretary of State in 2025.
Democratic Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate David Crowley speaks to supporters at a campaign rally on August 10, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Crowley is polling second behind front-runner Francesca Hong in the Democratic primary, which takes place tomorrow. Getty Images
Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong speaks to supporters during an election-night party on August 11, 2026 in Madison, Wisconsin. Recent polling had Hong with a substantial lead over her nearest Democratic rival David Crowley, but returns have shown a tight race throughout the evening with the two candidates trading slight leads.Getty Images
Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) participates in a ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol on May 19, 2020 in Washington, DC. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) and Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA) were both officially sworn-in as new House members on Tuesday morning.Getty Images
