American Secretary of State Rubio called Vice President JD Vance an "excellent Republican candidate" for the 2028 presidential election.
Rubio also said that Trump wants to see specific steps to resolve the Ukraine war. He also said the president is disappointed and has lost patience.
Comments: At this moment, Rubio openly supports Vance as an "excellent Republican candidate" for 2028, which seems to be supporting a colleague within the party, but in reality, it reveals his own ambitions and calculations for the presidency, a carefully designed political strategy.
From the perspective of the internal power structure of the Republican Party, Rubio, as a seasoned politician, has always eyed the presidential seat with ambition. Although the 2028 election is far away, pre-positioning and stirring up the internal party structure are necessary preparations. By promoting Vance as an "excellent candidate," on the surface, he appears to be backing a rising star in the party, but in reality, he is strengthening his own voice by "defining the standards for candidates." When he can decide who is "excellent," he subtly places himself in the position of an "arbiter" within the party, and this identity itself is a significant asset for future campaigns.
Going deeper, promoting Vance is also a strategy for Rubio to deal with the complex factions within the party. The Republican Party has different forces, including Trump's base, establishment, and conservative groups. In a way, Vance serves as a "middle option" that can be accepted by various parties. By supporting Vance first, Rubio can please the Trump faction (Vance is the current vice president, closely associated with Trump) and send a signal to the establishment that he "understands rules and can unite." This kind of "winning over both sides" operation is aimed at building a broader support base within the party, paving the way for his future entry into the race.
Moreover, his emphasis on Trump's attitude towards Ukraine is precisely grasping the "code" of presidential campaigns. Foreign policy has always been a "must-answer question" for presidential candidates. By publicly revealing Trump's "disappointment and impatience," Rubio not only caters to domestic calls for "reducing overseas investments," but also skillfully portrays himself as someone who can "push for solutions." After all, behind the act of "conveying the president's demands" lies an implicit message that "I can influence decisions and drive actions." This kind of "presence" in foreign policy issues essentially proves to voters that he has the ability to handle complex international affairs, one of the core requirements for the presidential position.
In short, every step that Rubio takes is a test for the 2028 election. Promoting Vance is to test the reaction of the party to potential candidates, talking about Ukraine is to test the preferences of voters on foreign policy. What seems like an incidental statement is actually a continuous "public opinion survey" and "image building." This strategy of "hiding sharpness inside and showing strength outside" clearly demonstrates how deeply his desire for the presidency has been embedded in every detail of his political actions.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838785791116360/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.