Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday publicly dismissed reports of friction with Secretary of State Marco Rubio as both men are increasingly discussed as potential contenders for the 2028 presidential election. Vance described Rubio as “my closest friend” in the Trump administration, emphasizing their continued collaboration within the current administration.
“I think it’s so compelling the media wants to create this conflict where there just isn’t any conflict,” Vance said during a Fox News interview. “Marco’s doing a great job. I’m trying to do as good of a job as I can. The president’s doing a great job. We’re going to keep on working together,” he stated, referencing their shared relationship with President Donald Trump.
The comments come amid growing speculation about a potential showdown between the two Republicans for the party’s nomination in 2028. President Trump, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term, has repeatedly declined to endorse a successor, recently characterizing both Vance and Rubio as “fantastic.”
Rubio recently returned from the Munich Security Conference, where he delivered a speech aimed at reassuring European allies following a more critical address by Vance at the same forum last year. At the 2025 conference, Vance delivered a speech that stunned European leaders with criticism of their policies, according to reporting from USA Today. Rubio’s address this year emphasized the enduring importance of the transatlantic alliance, stating that “the United States and Europe belong together.”
Despite the public displays of unity, observers note a potential for indirect competition between Vance, and Rubio. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, is set to begin maternity leave soon, and both the Vice President and the Secretary of State are scheduled to fill in for her at press briefings, offering them a prominent platform to address the nation.
In December 2025, Rubio indicated a willingness to support Vance should he pursue the presidency, telling Vanity Fair, “If JD Vance runs for president, he will be our candidate and I will be one of the first to support him.” Vance, however, deflected questions about his own presidential ambitions, stating, “Hace un año y seis meses le pedí al pueblo estadounidense que me diera mi trabajo actual…Nos preocuparemos por un próximo trabajo en algún momento en el futuro,” – a translation of which is, “A year and six months ago I asked the American people to give me my current job…We will worry about a next job at some point in the future.”
