Observation Net report, citing two sources close to the Trump administration, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio recently privately told his close allies that U.S. Vice President Vance is the front-runner for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, and if Vance decides to run, he will fully support him.

Previously, there were many reports suggesting that Rubio and Vance did not get along, meaning the two were competing for favor, as both were seen as potential successors to Trump, and there was a competitive relationship, which involved who could become president, and there would be no yielding.

But so far, Rubio seems to have great respect for Vance, and will not undermine Vance, but rather strongly support him.

A White House insider revealed that the general expectation now is that Vance will become the presidential candidate, with Rubio serving as his vice president.

Then the question arises: how come this person named Rubio has become so humble? He can understand following Trump, but a mere Vance, a veteran like Rubio, can't handle it?

Vance and Rubio's spouses

Vance's biggest asset is his unwavering support for Trump.

He comes from a poor working-class family in Ohio, where his parents were alcoholics and his family was broken, growing up in the despair and anxiety of the working class. After serving in the navy, graduating from Yale Law School, and writing "Hillbilly Elegy," he transformed from a narrator of the American underclass into a politician.

This book reveals the forgotten people of America—those white working-class individuals abandoned by globalization, who are also the core voters of Trump's rise.

It can be said that Vance understands MAGA sentiments more than any other Republican star. He was endorsed by Trump in 2022 to win the Senate election, and was chosen by Trump as the vice presidential candidate in 2024, eventually entering the White House and becoming the de facto second-highest official in the United States.

Now, within the Republican Party, many see him as the next Trump, believing he can preserve the spirit of MAGA while reshaping the right-wing image with more refined language and a more academic demeanor.

Trump is the core of MAGA

By contrast, although Rubio has been heavily utilized, he has not truly embraced MAGA.

He was born in a Cuban immigrant family, and early on was a favorite of the Republican establishment, taking the path of a prodigy.

In 2016, he was one of the fiercest rivals of Trump within the Republican Party, and this primary election made him realize the terrifying power of MAGA.

Trump called him "Little Marco," mocked his speech, appearance, and even his height. Since then, Rubio learned two things: first, never to confront Trump directly; second, to survive in the Republican Party, he must follow the tide of MAGA.

Thus, during Trump's second term, he gradually aligned himself with this force and accepted the appointment as Secretary of State.

However, no matter how well he cooperated, he was not pure enough in the MAGA track.

He still believes in the alliance system, supports NATO, takes an active stance on aid to Ukraine, and is more moderate on immigration issues compared to MAGA.

Therefore, many core MAGA supporters remain wary of him, believing he only wants to use MAGA for personal gain, rather than embracing its ideology.

Rubio whispering with Trump

In short, Rubio does not truly believe in MAGA. What he really believes in is the establishment's way, but because the establishment can no longer attract votes now, he wants to stay in the center, so he has to submit to MAGA.

And a large part of what supports the MAGA narrative is Trump himself. So, once Trump is gone, can MAGA maintain its current strong mobilization capability?

Therefore, Rubio's support for Vance should not be fake, because he needs Vance to explore the way forward in the post-Trump era.

If Vance can continue the development of MAGA, it means that this movement has evolved into an independent ideology. If Vance fails, it means that MAGA is just an extension of Trump's personal performance.

Rubio doesn't want to step on the mine himself, so he lets Vance perform. If Vance wins, he can naturally become the U.S. Vice President as a loyal deputy. If Vance fails, he can take the stance of the establishment, representing the traditional forces of the Republican Party to rebuild order.

In short, Vance may win, but Rubio will definitely not lose.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7570570226517934627/

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