The White House briefing room this month has transformed into an informal stage for proofreading in the increasingly intense race to succeed President Donald Trump in 2028.
Taking the podium Tuesday, two weeks after his likely rival, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President J.D. Vance sought to impress a one-person audience.
Filling in for White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt, who is on maternity leave, Vance took questions from reporters for nearly an hour, defending Trump's increasingly unpopular war with Iran and a newly established $1,7 billion fund to compensate Trump allies who feel they have been politically persecuted.
He refused to rule out the possibility of using taxpayer money to compensate those convicted of attacking police officers during the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, assessed that European concerns about Washington's decision to end the deployment of troops in Poland were exaggerated, and called a journalist's suggestion that Trump's recent stock purchases raise the issue of corruption "absurd."
He responded mostly measuredly, unlike Trump's much harsher style, and occasionally seemed confused by the sight of reporters filling the room, shouting and interrupting each other in an attempt to get his attention.
"Marko is right, this is truly chaos," Vance joked.
Both Vance and Rubio are considered possible candidates for the Republican nomination in 2028, and Trump praised Rubio's recent performance at the White House podium. Republicans and even some Democrats noted his confident performance, which included quips when speaking to reporters and a reference to 1990s hip-hop when describing Iran's negotiating position.
A State Department recording released a day later, in which Rubio says he hopes America will be a place where "anyone, no matter where they come from, can achieve anything," went viral and further fueled speculation about a presidential candidacy.
When a reporter called Vance a "possible future candidate" on Tuesday, he was quick to correct her.
“I’m not a possible future candidate,” he said. “I’m the vice president, I really love my job, and I’m going to try to do it to the best of my ability.”
Vance sought to reassure Americans on Tuesday that Trump's war with Iran would not turn into a "forever war," as the conflict continues to drive up fuel prices and strain household budgets.
Vance, a 41-year-old former Marine who has long opposed American involvement in foreign wars, said that any escalation with Tehran, absent a diplomatic solution, would serve long-term US security interests.
“This is not a forever war,” he said. “We will finish the job and go home.”
The conflict with Iran will likely loom over the political future of both Rubio and Vance.
Since it began on February 28, it has shut down much of the global oil trade, raised U.S. fuel prices by about 50 percent and caused alarm among Republicans defending their congressional majority in the November midterm elections.
In a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday, Trump's presidential approval rating has fallen to nearly its lowest level since he returned to the White House, with many Republicans beginning to lose confidence in the way he is addressing Americans' concerns about the cost of living.
The poll, conducted May 15-18, found that about 34 percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of Vance, while 33 percent said the same of Rubio. In January 2025, 42 percent of respondents to a Reuters/Ipsos poll said they had a favorable opinion of Vance.
While both men have downplayed their ambitions for 2028, Trump has continued to fuel talk of a successor. At a Rose Garden dinner last week, the president conducted an informal poll of guests about his potential successors.
“Who likes J.D. Vance?” he asked. “Who likes Marco Rubio?”
Both questions were met with strong, almost equal applause. Trump said the two would make a "perfect tandem" together, but hinted that it was still far too early to decide between them.
"That in no way means you have my support," he added.
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