Donald Trump publically slows down speculations about succession, but from behind the scenes of the White home there is another signal. According to U.S. media reports, the president was expected to tell donors that Republicans should be betting on JD Vance in 2028. For Poland, this is not a rumor from across the ocean, but a announcement of a dispute over the direction of the American right, that is, about the most crucial pillar of our security.
Private signal from the Oval Office
Donald Trump had during a private gathering with donors in the Oval Office suggested that his political successor should be Vice president JD Vance. As he stated People magazine, citing Washington Post coverage, the president was expected to say that you had to "choose JD." According to this account, the conversation took place about 2 weeks before the reports were published.
It's important, due to the fact that Trump is inactive playing with success very carefully. He publically praises Vance, but does not shut down Marco Rubio, the current Secretary of State. In June he spoke of both politicians as a possible team. specified a game gives him control of the Republican camp and reminds everyone who inactive holds the political mandate of the MEGA movement.
For the Polish reader, this is not an exotic from Washington. The American right-wing decides present whether NATO will stay a real deterrent system, whether it will become another institution full of clichés and bills passed between allies. That's why it's worth reading this dispute with the vice president's earlier line, who Without a doubt, he told Europe to pay for its own safety.
Public: besides early to decide
Trump rapidly took care of the distance. New York Post reportedthat the president called Vance a large politician, but at the same time considered that formal support was inactive besides early. It's a typical Trump maneuver: send a signal to your own camp, check your reaction, and then leave a field of retreat.
There are 2 facts in this case. First of all, Trump as a two-point president can't just run for the 3rd time. Secondly, he continues to effort to influence voters' imagination with the slogan 2028, besides through political merchandising and return jokes. A formal constitutional regulation does not deprive him of his function as arbitrator in the Republican Party.
Vance himself avoids a premature declaration. In November 2025 he spoke in Fox News that he would discuss the future after the election of the mediate of his term. That's rational. A politician who starts campaigning for succession besides shortly can be treated as an impatient man. In Trump camp, loyalty is as crucial as polls.
Vance versus Rubio, or 2 languages of the right hand
Vance and Rubio's rivalry is not just personal. Vance symbolizes the tougher, more skeptical towards liberal elites the current American right. Rubio has experience in abroad policy and a strong position in the establishment wing of Republicans. Trump, playing both, maintains a balance between rebellion and the organization base of power.
From the Polish point of view, the most crucial question is the cost and meaning of the alliance. Vance spoke the transactional language many times: Europe is to take greater work for its own defence. There's nothing amazing about it. The U.S. payer will not forever finance the convenient helplessness of rich Western states. The problem begins erstwhile a bill for German and French negligence is quietly being transferred to front countries, including Poland.
Therefore, Warsaw cannot treat Washington as an eternal guardian. We must build our own strength, industry, army and regional agreements. The alliance with the US is fundamental for Poland, but a healthy alliance is based on business, not on infantile waiting for guarantees from another's capital. This was recalled by DN analysis that The next 4 years may be crucial for transatlantic relations.
Rate for Poland
If Vance truly becomes Trump's favorite, Polish diplomacy should accept it without hysteria and without illusions. It means: to talk to people of the future administration, to strengthen relations with Republican environments and at the same time to guarantee that Polish business is not brought to the function of addition to the global game of Washington.
The worst would be a reaction typical of any of our elites: to be offended by the American right, due to the fact that it speaks the language of the bill, not salon courtesy. State policy is not about liking the kind of another people's leaders. It involves knowing their interests and hard entering their own goals.
In 2028 The Americans will elect a president for themselves, not for Europe. Poland must so be able to talk to all force centre in the USA, but without complexes and without asking for grace. If Trump truly points to Vance, then the signal is simple: it is time to end the policy of comfortable declarations and build an alliance on strength, money and real contribution to defending your own land.
Sources: People behind Washington Post, "Donald Trump Reportedly Told Donors ‘We request to Elect JD' in 2028"; fresh York Post, "Trump Says It's 'way besides early' to endorse JD Vance".
