Dude … he’s not running.
The Protection Racket Media loves to hate Donald Trump, but it must hate loving him at some level, too. Unlike the Joe Biden Regency, Trump is constantly available and constantly ready to tell reporters exactly what he thinks at the same moment he thinks it. On occasion, this throws the Narrative Minders for such a loop that they mistake the mundane for breaking news.
The New York Times fell into that trap yesterday, but they were hardly alone. In an extemporaneous exchange at a White House presser, Trump made the somehow extraordinary and unprecedented argument that a president’s running mate would be the likely choice to succeed him in the next election:
That led to this headline at the NYT this morning:
President Trump said on Tuesday that Vice President JD Vance was “most likely” to succeed him as the leader of the MAGA movement, in what appeared to be his strongest public backing for Mr. Vance’s political future.
Though Mr. Trump has previously mused about running for a third presidential term in 2028, the Constitution does not allow it, and speculation has grown about who he would support as his eventual successor. …
“Well, I think most likely, in all fairness. He’s the vice president,” Mr. Trump said. He added that it was “too early obviously to talk about it,” but that Mr. Vance was “doing a great job and he would be probably favorite at this point.”
Mr. Trump also suggested that “Marco,” an apparent reference to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was “also somebody that maybe would get together with JD” on a Republican ticket.
Is this new, let alone news? Er … no, the NYT admits, albeit with a qualifier:
The president’s comments suggest a shift in his thinking over time. In May, he floated both Mr. Vance and Mr. Rubio as possible successors.
It’s actually not new at all. Three months ago, Trump said the exact same thing, naming both Rubio and Vance as potential successors for MAGA leadership, telling NBC’s Meet the Press that “typically” the Vice President assumes that mantle when the president retires:
KRISTEN WELKER: I know that you are only 100 days in, but as we sit here today, who do you see as your successor, Mr. President?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP: Well, I – it’s far too early to say that. But you know, I do have a vice president, and typically – and JD’s doing a fantastic job. It –
KRISTEN WELKER: He would be at the top of the list?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP: It – it could very well be – I – I don’t want to get involved in that. I think he’s a fantastic, brilliant guy. Marco is great. There’s a lot of them that are great. I – I also see tremendous unity. But certainly you would say that somebody’s the VP, if that person is outstanding, I guess that person would have an advantage. But I think the other people would all stay in unbelievably high positions. But you know, it could be that he’d be challenged by somebody. We have a lot of good people in this party.
How is yesterday’s answer any different than May’s? This isn’t news, and it’s not even particularly relevant for at least two more years. Trump is the undisputed leader of the MAGA movement and will remain so as long as he’s president. Vance, Rubio, and all others take direction from Trump on what MAGA means and what its agenda includes, as some — like Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene — have already learned the hard way.
When will this become relevant? When the 2028 primary season opens up in early 2027 and we get our first looks at presidential ambitions. Trump will not “clear the field” at this stage, because it would be impossible to do. Trump didn’t clear the field in 2023 with his early declaration in late 2022; unlike Democrats, Republicans actually had a competitive primary, and Trump’s ascendancy was both legit and undeniable. The GOP will have a competitive primary in 2027-8 too, and the outcome will rely on how much success Trump has in his first two years and in the midterm elections. If Trump manages to deliver on the MAGA agenda and holds both chambers of Congress, then Vance and Rubio would have a big head start on winning the nomination. If the administration starts to fail, then calls for a change of direction would likely produce a different nominee.
Trump knows this. He’s answering the question from his personal perspective because reporters keep asking it, but he’s saying the same thing over and over again while media outlets pretend that it’s somehow news.
One might think that the Protection Racket Media might be more focused on all of the actions Trump is taking now as president than in an election cycle that won’t even start for another 18 months. That would require the media to report on Trump’s successes, however, when all they really want to discuss is how long it will be before Trump leaves the stage.
Editor’s Note: The Protection Racket Media continues to deflect, gaslight, spin, and lie about President Trump, his administration, and conservatives.
Help us continue to expose their left-wing bias by reading news you can trust. Join Hot Air VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership.
