Rubio Ready to Step Aside for Vance if He Decides to Run for President in 2028, AP Reports

The outlet describes in detail the relationship between Rubio and Vance, including against the backdrop of negotiations over Iran. According to AP, both politicians are involved in implementing Donald Trump’s foreign-policy and defense agenda, but they approach it differently.

Vance has already criticized Israel several times over its actions in Lebanon, while Rubio has maintained support for Tel Aviv or avoided public comment on the Lebanese issue.

AP writes that Rubio was so skeptical about the possibility of an acceptable agreement with Tehran that in April he refused to lead the U.S. delegation at talks in Pakistan. Vance, by contrast, saw this as a chance to strengthen his foreign-policy credentials and, according to the outlet, twice asked Trump to entrust the mission to him until the president agreed.

At the same time, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said that “Rubio and the entire administration are 100% acting in full alignment with President Trump.”

Diplomat Ian Kelly believes that both Vance and Rubio have ambitions to become Trump’s successors. In his view, however, if the talks with Iran fail, Vance’s presidential prospects could be at risk.

The outlet notes that Rubio and Vance’s political views differ noticeably. Rubio draws on Ronald Reagan’s doctrine about the importance of the “free world,” while Vance is not interested in that concept and prefers to talk about rejecting “abstractions.”

According to AP’s sources, Rubio is also using his position to reshape the National Security Council around himself. In recent weeks, he has appointed close allies to key posts in the White House.

Among them are former State Department adviser Mike Needham, who became deputy national security adviser, and Jeremy Lewin, who previously oversaw the dismantling of USAID. He has now been appointed deputy secretary for the Western Hemisphere.