Vice President J.D. Vance has emerged as President Donald Trump’s undisputed political heir in 2028 after brokering a tentative Iran peace deal over the summer, publishing a best-selling book and embarking on a media blitz that impressed the now-President, according to Axios analysis.“J.D. has earned this honor and Trump sees it,” a senior Trump adviser told Axios, adding that another top Trump aide seen as a potential heir apparent, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, “wasn’t planning to run in the first place, and now he’s even less likely to do so.”Trump has been comparing Vance and Rubio for months, even almost pitting them against each other, asking advisers who they like best in the 2028 election. That parlor game is now on hold. “The president isn’t asking, ‘JD or Marco?’ Not anymore,” an insider said. “He no longer asks, ‘How’s JD doing?'” He now says, ‘JD looks great, right?’ ‘”Vance’s turning point came in mid-June, when he and presidential envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff helped broker a memorandum of understanding with Iran that was a step toward ending the war. The day before, Vance’s new book, “Communion: Finding the Way Back to Faith,” was released.Vance, who has already scheduled a book tour, has benefited from breaking news attention to his role in the peace negotiations. In June, he gave a total of 33 interviews, ranging from conservative podcasts to White House press briefings to interviews with HBO and ABC.“He (Trump) saw the clips and liked what he saw,” one of Trump’s advisers said.Vance has participated in Republican National Committee fundraisers and has received about $70 million in donations, a vital network he will tap into if he runs for president. According to a poll released by Navigator Research last month, his net approval rating among Republicans was 62%, slightly lower than Trump’s 65% and well above Rubio’s 51%.Vance also leads other potential Republican rivals in national and early state polls.
Murdoch Dinner
The new book “Regime Change” by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan recounts a dinner on October 16, 2025, in which Trump asked Rupert Murdoch to compare Vance and Rubio. As both men sat awkwardly at the table, Murdoch was noticeably more enthusiastic in his assessment of Rubio, calling him “brilliant” while saying Vance “has the potential to be great.”The media mogul has privately tried to persuade Trump not to choose Vance as his 2024 running mate.Rubio has made it clear that he has no intention of running in the presidential primary. He doesn’t have Vance’s infrastructure for a possible campaign, a stable of political advisers and insiders ready to work for him.“Marco doesn’t have a hitter. Vance does,” said one Rubio ally. “JD.com looks good. Everyone in the government knows that.”
