Lara Trump Refuses to Pick Between J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio as She Weighs in on 2028 Presidential Election

President Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, declined to choose a favorite when Australian journalist Erin Molan on "The Erin Molan Show" asked whether she preferred Vice President J.D. Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a potential leader.

Instead, she praised both politicians equally, stating that either man would make an "incredible president.”

Molan interviewed Lara, a former Inside Edition producer, to get her insights on key Republican figures and future leadership prospects.

Rather than tipping her hand toward one candidate, Lara shared the clip across her official social media platforms, including her Facebook Page and TikTok, with the caption confirming she "didn't pick a favorite."

The diplomatic answer sparked widespread online discussion among voters and analysts about the future of the Republican ticket.

When Lara asked Rubio directly about his own 2028 ambitions and if his sights were set outside the State Department, Rubio deflected to endorse the vice president, with whom he is said to have a "hidden rivalry": "I think J.D. Vance would be a great nominee… if he decides he wants to do that. I think he’s doing a great job as vice president. He’s a close friend, and I hope he intends to do it."

Days after Rubio made his comments to Lara, her father-in-law addressed the 2028 speculation directly, saying, "Well, I think most likely. In all fairness, he's the vice president, and I think Marco is also somebody that maybe would get together with J.D. in some form... So it's too early, obviously, to talk about it, but certainly he's doing a great job, and he would be probably favored at this point."

Recent polling from Daily Mail/JL Partners shows Vance surging to 51 percent support among Republican primary voters as the preferred standard-bearer for 2028. Analyst discussion spiked after reports claimed Trump privately told donors, "At the end of the day, we need to elect J.D.," signaling Vance as his preferred successor.

The octogenarian POTUS, however, has recently walked back claims that he has fully endorsed Vance.

Despite high visibility as Secretary of State, Rubio trails Vance significantly in primary polling at just 15 percent.

However, Rubio recently sought to ease inner-party tension by publicly stating he would be "the first person to sign up and support" Vance if he runs.

Analysts and voters are actively debating the viability of a Vance-Rubio joint ticket.

President Trump previously floated the idea to crowds, calling the duo an "unstoppable" combination — though observers note it remains unclear who would ultimately top that ticket.

On betting platforms, Vance and Rubio have frequently trended in a dead heat, with both holding roughly equal odds of securing the 2028 nomination, trailing prospects like California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff on the Democratic side.