NYT: Trump Questions Vance's Suitability as Successor
US President Donald Trump has expressed doubts about Vice President JD Vance’s suitability as his successor, The New York Times (NYT) reported on Saturday (30 May), citing sources familiar with the matter.
According to the report, Trump regularly seeks opinions on both Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
In early May, Trump even asked guests at an event who they believed was more qualified to be a presidential candidate.
However, the newspaper stated that Trump has shown he does not support either candidate.
The NYT reported that during private polls on Vance and Rubio, Trump frequently compared Vance’s performance to his own achievements.
Trump has repeatedly told supporters that Vance has never won a competitive election without his assistance.
He has also raised concerns about the number of holidays Vance took while serving as vice president.
Meanwhile, Trump is said to rarely take time off.
According to the NYT report, Trump has highlighted several instances where Vance acted inappropriately for his position.
The US president reportedly brought up an incident last spring when Vance dropped an Ohio high school football state championship trophy on the South Lawn of the White House.
During various meetings, Vance is said to frequently scroll through his phone and use social media to debate critics.
The report noted that while Trump is active on Truth Social, he does not spend time responding to other users.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles recently advised Vance to take a break from social media, deeming such disputes inappropriate for his role, according to NYT sources.
Nevertheless, close associates of Trump and Vance still believe the vice president is the most suitable successor, the newspaper wrote.
The Republican Party must choose a new presidential candidate before the November 2028 election, as Trump cannot run for a third term under the US Constitution.
Trump previously stated that the Republican Party has several potential candidates to replace him, including JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.