Vance’s hot summer positions him as Trump’s heir — for now

(Marc Caputo – Axios) This is JD Vance’s summer: The vice president penned a bestselling book, helped broker a tentative peace deal with Iran, embarked on a media blitz and — most importantly for him — impressed the man in the Oval Office. Vance’s performances on TV, in polls and on the global chessboard underscore how — at least at this moment — the VP looks like President Trump’s undisputed political heir if he runs in 2028. “JD is earning it, and Trump sees it,” a senior Trump adviser said, adding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio — the other top Trump aide seen as a potential heir — “wasn’t planning to run anyway, and he’d be even less likely to do so now”. For months, Trump has compared and almost pitted Vance and Rubio against one another, asking advisers whom they’d prefer at the top of a 2028 ticket. That parlor game is now on hold. – Vance’s hot summer positions to be Trump’s heir — for now