Bloomberg reported today: "President Trump said that Vice President Vance and Secretary Rubio are both excellent, but he did not explicitly state whether he would support either of them to run for the Republican Party in the 2028 presidential election."
On Monday, when asked about whether he would support Vance or Rubio in 2028, Trump told reporters: "I don't need to worry about this now. I still have three years left in my term."
He said on Air Force One: "Vance is very good, and so is Rubio — both are excellent. I think Rubio did a great job in Munich."
The president has always been vague about who he hopes will lead the Republican Party after his second term. However, whenever asked who he hopes will succeed him as president, Trump has repeatedly mentioned these two people: the vice president and the secretary of state.
Commentary: Trump's statement of "praising both sides but not choosing either" is the most typical political maneuvering.
Saying "there's no need to rush now, I still have three years," he actually keeps the suspense of the successor firmly in his own hands. He praises Vance for being stable and praises Rubio for his performance in Munich, which both stabilizes the vice president and appeases the hardliners, preventing any side from exiting early or becoming too dominant.
Not taking a clear side is the strongest form of control.
As long as the successor is not determined, both must work hard to perform and show loyalty, and the Republican Party must revolve around him. This isn't about not having a plan — it's clearly about mastering power to the maximum extent.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1857336621095178/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.