Axios: JD Vance emerges as leading Trump successor

Vice President JD Vance has emerged as the leading contender to succeed President Donald Trump within the Republican Party, buoyed by a series of high-profile political and diplomatic successes that have strengthened his standing inside the administration, Axios reports.

The outlet said Vance's recent rise has been driven by the release of his bestselling book, a prominent role in brokering a tentative peace agreement with Iran, and an extensive media campaign that reportedly impressed Trump.

"JD is earning it, and Trump sees it," a senior Trump adviser told Axios, adding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio — another senior administration figure often mentioned as a potential 2028 contender — "wasn't planning to run anyway, and he'd be even less likely to do so now."

According to the report, Trump had for months informally compared Vance and Rubio as possible successors, but advisers say the president has increasingly expressed confidence in his vice president.

"POTUS isn't asking, 'JD or Marco?' anymore," one insider noted.

The source said: “He's no longer asking, 'How's JD doing?' He's now saying, 'JD looks great, right?'"

Axios identified mid-June as a turning point for Vance, when he joined presidential envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in helping negotiate a memorandum of understanding with Iran aimed at ending the conflict.

Around the same time, Vance released his new book, Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, and embarked on a media tour that included appearances on a range of conservative and mainstream outlets.

According to Vance's office, the vice president gave 33 interviews during June.

"The president doesn't watch 'The View.' But he saw the clips and loved what he saw," one of Trump's advisers added.

Vance has also become a key fundraiser for the Republican National Committee, helping raise about $70 million, according to the report.

While his overall approval ratings remain similar to Trump's nationally, polling cited by Axios shows Vance enjoys strong support among Republican voters, with a net favourability rating of 62%, compared with Trump's 65% and Rubio's 51%.

The report noted, however, that Vance still faces challenges, including criticism from some conservative figures over his foreign policy views and economic positions. It also said his close ties to commentator Tucker Carlson could become a source of friction if Trump's relationship with Carlson continues to deteriorate.

Despite occasional speculation about a rivalry, Rubio has repeatedly indicated he has no intention of mounting a presidential campaign and lacks the political infrastructure Vance has already built, Axios reported.

"Marco doesn't have pipe hitters. Vance does," a Rubio ally told the outlet. "JD's looking good. And everyone in the administration knows it."

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov