Trending Now - GOP Donors Consider 'draft Rubio' Campaign for 2028 Election
WHO:
Laura Loomer, far-right activist, stated, "RUBIO RISING ... Get ready for 2028!" in early March 2026.
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
JD Vance, Vice President
Donald Trump, President
Laura Loomer, far-right activist
Badr Abdelatty, Egyptian Foreign Minister
Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense
Steven Cheung, White House communications director
Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence
Chris Wright, Energy Secretary
Donald Trump Jr., President Trump's son
Peter Thiel, billionaire
Elon Musk, billionaire
Charlie Kirk, late founder of Turning Point USA
WHAT:
An NBC poll conducted last week shows that 49% of registered voters have a negative opinion of Vance, while 38% are positive, resulting in a net negative of 11 points. For Rubio, 41% are negative and 34% are positive, resulting in a net negative of 7 points.
A spokesperson for Vance stated that he "remained in Washington to maintain operational secrecy" during the Iran strikes.
Trump remarked on March 13th, 2026, that he and Vance were "philosophically a little bit different" regarding the U.S. war with Iran.
A "draft Rubio" campaign is being organized by GOP donors for the 2028 presidential election.
Rubio's profile has risen due to his collaboration with Trump on security and foreign policy.
An NBC poll shows Vance with a net negative opinion of 11 points and Rubio with a net negative of 7 points among voters.
Trump has expressed that Rubio is "popular" and "loved" within the administration.
Trump has not formally endorsed either Vance or Rubio as his preferred successor.
Rubio has taken on roles such as acting national security adviser and acting director of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Rubio was present during the early hours of Operation Epic Fury, a military operation against Iran.
29% of Americans approve of the Iran strikes, while 43% disapprove, according to an Ipsos poll.
Vance has been criticized for his connections to anti-war voices, including Tucker Carlson.
WHERE:
Washington, D.C., State Department Building, where Rubio met with Badr Abdelatty on February 10th, 2025.
Mar-a-Lago, where Trump monitored Operation Epic Fury.
Rocky Mount, North Carolina, where Vance spoke about the Iran war.
WHEN:
The NBC poll was conducted in the week of March 9th, 2026.
Trump made his comments about Vance on March 13th, 2026.
February 10th, 2025 - Rubio's meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
February 2026 - Trump questioned advisors about a potential Vance-Rubio campaign.
March 2nd, 2026 - Vance expressed concerns about a prolonged conflict in an interview with Fox News.
March 16th, 2026 - Date of the news articles.
WHY:
Loomer suggested that Vance's failure to condemn Tucker Carlson's criticism of the Iran strikes is causing GOP donors and the base to sour on him, stating, "If he doesn’t disavow him, Marco’s going to be the nominee."
The "draft Rubio" movement is driven by a desire to elevate Rubio's political future amid his rising profile.
Support for Rubio has increased due to his alignment with Trump during the Iran conflict, contrasting with Vance's anti-war stance.
HOW:
GOP donors are discussing ways to boost Rubio's chances for the 2028 election through a "shadow" campaign.
Trump has been privately asking allies about their preferences for the 2028 ticket, specifically "Marco or JD?"
(UPDATED March 16, 2026 23:12 UTC)
In a recent NBC poll conducted last week, 49% of registered voters expressed a negative opinion of J.D. Vance, while 41% felt the same about Marco Rubio, indicating a net negative of 11 points for Vance and 7 points for Rubio. Laura Loomer, a far-right activist, recently declared that Rubio is "rising" and suggested that Vance's failure to disavow Tucker Carlson's criticism of the Iran strikes is hurting his standing with GOP donors and supporters. Meanwhile, Trump noted on March 13 that he and Vance have differing philosophies regarding the U.S. war with Iran, as Vance's spokesperson stated he remained in Washington to maintain operational secrecy during the conflict.
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(UPDATED March 16, 2026 17:23 UTC)
In a significant development, GOP donors are launching a "draft Rubio" campaign to elevate Marco Rubio's profile for the 2028 presidential election, especially as he has gained favor with Trump for his work on security and foreign policy. Meanwhile, an NBC poll reveals that JD Vance has a net negative opinion of 11 points among voters, while Rubio's stands at a net negative of 7 points, with Trump noting that Rubio is "popular" within the administration but has yet to endorse either candidate. The push for Rubio comes amid rising tensions over the Iran conflict, where 29% of Americans approve of the recent military strikes, contrasting with Vance's anti-war stance, which has drawn criticism.