By Myra Adams – The Hill contributor

MYRA’S COMPLETE ARCHIVE IS HERE

Reposted from The Hill: May 16, 2025

President Trump sparked what is likely to be a brutal battle for the 2028 Republican nomination during his May 4 interview on “Meet the Press.” After extinguishing his ongoing “third-term” tease, Trump name-checked the two leading candidates to succeed him: Vice President JD Vance (as expected) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (very unexpected).

This week, questions about Rubio’s own birthright citizenship (neither of his parents was a citizen when he was born in Florida) generated headlines, so watch this developing issue.

Rubio, formerly a third-term U.S. senator from Florida, had been a critical rival of candidate Trump in the 2016 presidential primary. Rubio, whom Trump degradingly taunted as “Little Marco,” has suddenly morphed into powerful “Big Marco,” concurrently serving in four separate leadership positions: Secretary of State, interim National Security Advisor, acting administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development and acting archivist for the National Archives and Records Administration.

Trump’s recent unleashing of a Vance vs. Rubio rivalry will effectively sustain media interest over the next three years. Once again, the president proves he is a master manipulator of the 24/7 news cycle.

Now, during any Trump-news lull, he can tease a Vance vs. Rubio “Truth Social” post about the state of their rivalry. He can also inject new possible successors, tease a potential 2028 endorsement or adopt the firm non-endorsement strategy of “let the MAGA primary voters decide.” This continues his reign as the all-powerful lame-duck kingmaker, while 2028 hopefuls kowtow for his favor.

In any case, expect the GOP presidential primary to be 100 percent Trump-centric, with entangled high-stakes drama and factors at play. Such factors include enshrining Trump’s all-important personal and presidential legacy, a potential family dynasty, and ensuring the nomination of a “MAGA movement heir” worthy of that title who could capture 270 electoral votes in Trump’s name.

Recognizing and satisfying that checklist is why Trump’s “succession reality show contest” began this month. The president is known to enjoy extended chaos and infighting when he controls the situation.

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