Although President Donald Trump is still in the early months of his second term, speculation is already growing about who might lead the Republican Party in 2028.
Political commentator Meghan McCain shared her thoughts on social media Sunday, naming Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as her top picks to succeed Trump.
Posting a video of the trio standing behind the president during his nationally televised address announcing U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, McCain wrote:
“The three men standing behind Trump are all the top 3 contenders to be President next.”
Among the three, Hegseth is the political newcomer. A former Fox News contributor and U.S. Army veteran, he was appointed as defense secretary in January. Vance and Rubio, by contrast, bring more political experience—Vance as vice president and Rubio as a former senator and the current secretary of state.
McCain’s post sparked discussion online. Some users questioned Hegseth’s inclusion on the list but agreed with her assessment of Vance and Rubio.
“Hegseth is a joke. The other two, yes they’re legit candidates. I think Rubio has a better shot than Vance,” one user replied.
“Vance/Rubio would be an amazing ticket. As an ex-Dem, I’d vote for that!” added another.
“Hegseth is not a contender to be president. But Vance and Rubio are currently the top contenders,” a third user chimed in.
Vice President Vance was asked about his future political aspirations last month. He said his focus is on serving well in his current role and added, “The public can figure it out from there.” He also dismissed talk of any rivalry with Rubio, calling him “probably my best friend in the administration.”
Trump himself has mentioned both Vance and Rubio as possible successors. In a May interview on Meet the Press, he said:
“You look at Marco, you look at JD Vance, who’s fantastic… I could name 10, 15, 20 people right now, just sitting here.”
On the Democratic side, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) predicted a major shift within his party, suggesting a “progressive takeover” is on the horizon. Khanna also said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) would likely have won the presidency in 2028 if he were “10 years younger.”
As the political landscape evolves and the 2028 race remains years away, early speculation from both parties highlights the deep interest in who will emerge as the next generation of national leaders.
