The president, Donald Trump, publicly praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio again after his participation in the Munich Security Conference, although he was reluctant to define whom he would support as the Republican candidate in the 2028 presidential elections.
From his social network Truth Social, Trump spared no compliments for the former Cuban-American senator while also attacking Democratic figures.
"I am going to Washington D.C. I will soon hold a press conference with Air Force One. Marco was fantastic in Munich! AOC and Newscum were a disgrace to our nation. To begin with, they should not speak ill of the United States, especially on 'foreign soil.' They embarrassed themselves, and they always will! Corrupt Hillary simply expressed her anger and Trump's madness. Terrible representatives of our now successful country!" he wrote.
The message not only emphasized his support for Rubio but also maintained the president's usual combative tone against his political opponents, whom he accused of discrediting the United States abroad.
Praise on Air Force One, but without commitments
Hours later, aboard Air Force One, Trump reaffirmed his positive assessment of both Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, amid growing speculation about who could lead the Republican Party after the end of his second term.
“It's something I don't have to worry about right now. I have three years left,” he responded when journalists directly asked him if he would support Vance or Rubio in 2028.
Still, he continued to highlight both: “JD is fantastic. And Marco, they are both fantastic. I think Marco did a great job in Munich.”
The president has so far avoided committing to a clear successor, although on various occasions he has mentioned both Vance and Rubio as prominent figures within the Republican movement.
Last year, he went so far as to say that Vance is “very likely” the heir to the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, but he has also indicated that Rubio would be a “great candidate.”
Two distinct profiles within Trumpism
The statements come after Rubio received positive feedback for his intervention at the Munich Security Conference.
In Germany, Rubio emphasized the shared heritage between the United States and Europe and advocated for a "common path" toward the future, while remaining aligned with the central tenets of the Trump administration regarding Western dominance, immigration, and skepticism towards climate policies.
His tone was considered more moderate compared to the speech delivered a year earlier by Vance at the same forum.
On that occasion, the vice president lashed out at European allies and focused his remarks on cultural divisions, in a speech perceived as a factor that strained relations between Washington and the European Union.
Rubio, in comments later to Bloomberg News, clarified that he was not dismissing Vance's proposal, but rather aimed to explain in greater detail the administration's strategic reasoning.
At 54 years old and with a long history as an anti-communist hawk, Rubio has embraced Trump's tough approach to foreign policy, although he maintains a more institutional style focused on discreet negotiations.
Vance, 41, entered national politics after the success of his memoirs about life in working-class communities in Ohio and Kentucky, and has become one of the most prominent faces of the anti-elitist and disruptive wing of the MAGA movement.
Latent rivalry and political calculation
Trump has privately, and at times publicly, fueled the perception of a rivalry between the two for months. At different times, he has hinted that one or the other would be better positioned to take the Republican torch, never completely ruling out any option.
For now, the leader insists that succession is not an immediate priority.
"I have three years left," he repeats. However, his constant praise of Rubio—especially after his performance in Munich—and his repeated recognition of Vance keep the internal race for leadership of the Republican Party in the post-Trump era wide open.
The message is clear: both are “fantastic.” However, the definitive backing, at least for now, remains in suspense.
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