Donald Trump put JD Vance in an awkward position during an event in the White House Rose Garden on May 11 when he openly polled the crowd on whether they preferred Vance or Marco Rubio as the Republican presidential nominee for 2028.
“What do you think?” Trump asked the audience. “Who likes J.D. Vance?”
After applause for Vance, Trump followed up with: “Who likes Marco Rubio?”
The crowd also responded loudly for Rubio, prompting Trump to smile and describe the reaction as “very nice.” He then floated the idea of the two men forming a future “dream team” ticket — an unusual comment considering Vance is currently serving as his vice president and is widely viewed as the expected MAGA heir apparent.
(WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW.)
Trump then added another twist that immediately caught political attention.
“That does not mean you have my endorsement under any circumstance,” he said.
The remark quickly exploded online, with critics arguing Trump had publicly undercut his own vice president while elevating Rubio as a possible alternative for 2028.
The moment also reinforced growing speculation that Rubio’s political standing inside the administration has been quietly rising. While Vance remains closely associated with Trump’s populist base, Rubio has increasingly positioned himself as a more traditional and polished Republican figure with broader appeal.
Political observers have noted Rubio’s expanding influence within the administration, especially on foreign policy matters. Some Republicans now see him as a potentially stronger general-election candidate if Trump leaves office after his current term.
Meanwhile, Vance has struggled with poor approval numbers. Recent polling has shown his favorability dropping sharply, making him one of the least popular vice presidents at this stage of a modern administration.
Even so, he still leads many early Republican primary polls thanks largely to his close alignment with Trump and his support among the MAGA base.
The relationship between Rubio and Vance has also become a growing source of intrigue in Republican circles. Reports of tension and rivalry between the two have circulated for months, with both men viewed as possible contenders for leadership of the party after Trump.
Some analysts pointed to a recent Vatican diplomatic visit as another sign of Rubio’s growing stature. Rubio was reportedly chosen for a high-profile meeting with Pope Leo XIV following tensions between Trump and the Vatican, while Vance was left out entirely — a move many interpreted as politically significant.
Trump also took another playful jab at Vance during the Rose Garden event while discussing the security response to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting. He joked about Secret Service agents quickly lifting Vance “like he was a little boy,” laughing that it had become “the view of the week.”
Critics argue Trump has a long history of publicly embarrassing allies and subordinates to reinforce his dominance within the Republican Party. Supporters, however, dismissed the moment as typical Trump humor and insisted there is no serious divide between the president and his vice president.
Still, the optics were difficult to ignore: a sitting president openly comparing his own vice president to another potential successor — and refusing to promise support for either one.
🚨EMBARASSING!! Trump just humiliated JD. Vance by polling the audience about whether they like him or Marco Rubio better for president in 2028.
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) May 12, 2026
Then, he insisted he DOESN’T have his endorsement “under any circumstance.”
If I was JD Vance I’d be MORTIFIED right now. pic.twitter.com/DQWHRjefzg
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