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Vance vs. Rubio: Who will succeed Trump?

May 4, 2026

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are currently considered the most likely to succeed Donald Trump as the leader of the US Republican Party. How do they compare?

https://p.dw.com/p/5DErt

Two leading figures in Donald Trump's Republican Party, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, could shape the future of US global leadership.

While both criticize globalization and current alliances, their approaches differ sharply. Vance favors a more restrained, inward-focused US, shaped by his Rust Belt upbringing. Rubio, influenced by his family’s exile from Cuba, supports strong international engagement.

Their contrasting visions could significantly impact alliances, conflicts and global stability. 

Ines Pohl
Ines Pohl Bureau head of DW's Washington Studio@inespohl