Although President Donald Trump has yet to finish his first year in office, questions are already being raised about who his successor will be.

Yet in a bombshell move, Trump suggested this week that Vice President J.D. Vance is likely to be MAGA's next leader. 

Trump says "very capable" vice president "would probably be favored at this point"

According to USA Today, the president made that assertion when speaking with reporters on Monday, telling them Vance is "likely" to be the Republican Party's nominee in 2028.

Trump touted his vice president's record, stating that Vance is "doing a great job, and he would probably be favored at this point."

USA Today noted how that stance represents a change from the one that the president took in February when he described Vance as being "very capable" but said it was "too early" to talk about the future.

What's more, the president seems to have stopped toying with the idea of running for a third term in office despite a constitutional prohibition on his doing so.

As evidence of that, USA Today pointed to how Trump laughed when recently asked about the prospect by CNBC before adding, "No. Probably not."

Sen. Ted Cruz has built his profile via a podcast and syndicated radio show

Nevertheless, Axios pointed out in an article published last month that Vance is far from being the GOP's only presidential contender.

Potential 2028 GOP contenders already making moves https://t.co/wNpnQ0EzNN

— Axios (@axios) July 7, 2025

Among the other possible candidates is Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, who unsuccessfully vied for the Republican nomination in 2016 before ultimately losing to Trump.

Axios observed that Cruz has since built up his national profile by hosting "a top-ranked podcast" as well as a syndicated radio show.

The website added that Cruz is "planning to host a donor retreat next year and has built a formidable small-dollar fundraising network."

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also seen as a potential candidate

Another name getting attention is Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, who "has been raising her profile with a series of photo ops with ICE agents during immigration raids."

Noem was widely regarded as having a shot at becoming Trump's running mate last year but found herself embroiled in media controversy.

This came about when reporters pointed to a passage in her autobiography that saw her admit to shooting a dog after it had killed some chickens.