While speaking with NBC News, Secretary of State Marco Rubio once again threw his support behind Vice President JD Vance while discussing a hypothetical 2028 presidential primary and speculation surrounding a potential bid of his own.
When asked about the hypothetical scenario, Rubio emphasized that he is laser-focused on his current duties and supporting President Donald Trump’s foreign policy goals. “I’m going to be in this job for the next two and a half years. I’m going to do that job. I’m going to finish the job for this president. I’m enjoying it very much,” he said.
The secretary then reiterated that he will support Vice President Vance should he decide to run. “I think we’re going to make a lot of good things happen. JD is a very good friend of mine. If JD runs for president, I think he’d be a phenomenal candidate. I’ve said publicly, and I’ll say it again, I’ll be the first person to sign up and support him. I think JD would do great.”
After once again emphasizing that he is focused on his current duties, Rubio hinted that he is looking at a life beyond politics once the president’s term concludes. “You know, I’ve been doing this for a long time, too. I was in the Senate starting in 2010 so I’d like to do some other things with my life at some point, although public service is an honor to be able to be involved in,” Rubio told NBC’s Tom Llamas.
The most recent interview aligns with Rubio’s earlier support for a potential Vance candidacy. Rubio previously sought the Republican nomination for president in 2016, but has repeatedly downplayed the prospect of another run in the near future.
“I think JD Vance would be a great nominee if he decides he wants to do that,” he said when asked about his own presidential ambitions last year.
🚨 AWESOME! Sec. Marco Rubio says he’ll be the FIRST person to endorse JD Vance if he runs for president in 2028
“JD is a very good friend of mine. If JD runs for president, I think he’d be a PHENOMENAL candidate.”
“I’ve said publicly and I’ll say it again, I’ll be the FIRST… pic.twitter.com/6aNxAjN4k7
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 16, 2026
Early polling for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination shows Vice President Vance maintaining a lead in most surveys and averages, while Secretary Rubio has appeared as a consistent second-place contender. According to RealClearPolling data covering polls from January 22 to April 26
the RCP Average for the Republican field stands at Vance 45.5 percent, Donald Trump Jr. 14.8 percent, Rubio 14.0 percent, and Ron DeSantis at 7.5 percent.
Rubio has maintained a base of enthusiastic supporters urging him to run, however. According to a recent poll from Atlas Intel, Rubio led the hypothetical Republican primary field with 45.4 percent support to Vance’s 29.6 percent, with DeSantis trailing in a distant third with 11.2 percent. This marked the first poll in which Rubio has led Vance, contrasting with other surveys from the period that showed Vance ahead by wide margins.
