President Trump had just authorized a major joint U.S. and Israeli strike campaign against Iran when the conversation at Mar a Lago took an unexpected turn. After discussing global security and military action, the president shifted to something that always gets political donors talking, the future of the Republican Party.
Specifically, who should carry the GOP banner in 2028.
During a late night gathering on February 28 at his Florida estate, President Trump mingled with about two dozen wealthy Republican donors and allies. Among those in the room were New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Georgia billionaire Rick Jackson. At one point the president posed a simple question that immediately sparked debate.
Marco Rubio or JD Vance?
According to several people who attended the private event, the quick and informal show of hands leaned strongly toward Rubio, who currently serves as secretary of state.
“It was almost unanimous for Marco,” one attendee said, speaking anonymously about the private conversation.
Another person present confirmed that Rubio received overwhelming support during that moment.
“Yeah, that’s right,” the attendee said. “It was clear, at least that night.”
Not everyone agreed that Rubio dominated the room. A third person who attended described the reaction as more evenly split between Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. Either way, the exchange revealed something important about how early the 2028 conversation is already starting inside Republican circles.
President Trump enjoys testing the political waters, especially with people who help shape the party’s fundraising and donor infrastructure. Asking a room full of major contributors for their opinion is classic Trump political theater, equal parts curiosity and strategy.
Still, some longtime Trump allies caution against reading too much into a Mar a Lago donor room poll, especially given the location. Rubio represents Florida and has deep relationships with many Republican donors who regularly gather at the resort.
One former Trump administration official pointed out that this particular crowd has historically favored Rubio.
“The Mar a Lago donor crew are not JD people,” the former official said. “He did not get picked to be vice president because of the Mar a Lago crowd. If you remember, that crowd was lobbying the president to pick Marco.”
In other words, the room may not represent the broader Republican base.
And that base currently appears to lean strongly toward Vice President Vance. Among grassroots MAGA voters, Vance remains the overwhelming early favorite to lead the movement after President Trump eventually leaves the political stage.
Polling seems to back that up. An NBC News survey released recently found that 77 percent of Republican voters have a positive view of Vance, compared to 66 percent for Rubio.
President Trump himself has hinted that Vance could be the future of the movement. In an August interview with Fox News, he said the Ohio native was “most likely” to carry the torch and was “probably favored at this point.”
At the same time, Trump has consistently praised Rubio and kept his name in the conversation.
“In all fairness, he’s the vice president, and I think Marco is also somebody that maybe would get together with JD in some form,” President Trump said.
For now, the 2028 Republican race exists mostly as speculation and quiet maneuvering. But if the discussion at Mar a Lago is any indication, the battle to succeed President Trump is already beginning to take shape behind closed doors.
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