Vance and Rubio emerge as early contenders for Trump’s GOPcontenders for Trump’s GOP
A South China Morning Post analysis published on May 23, 2026 says Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are becoming early favorites to lead the Republican Party after Donald Trump.
The piece says their rising profiles reflect the competition to define the party’s future and the influence of Trump’s political style. It matters because the outcome could shape US politics and the country’s foreign policy direction after Trump.
- The Republican Party has often realigned around a single dominant leader after long presidential eras.
- US vice presidents frequently become presidential contenders, but party succession is never automatic.
