WASHINGTON (TNND) — Secretary Marco Rubio of the Department of State said in an interview that aired Saturday Vice President JD Vance would be a great nominee for the 2028 presidential election.

Fox News Channel host Lara Trump had asked Rubio whether he has his “sights set” outside the department, noting he has frequently been discussed as a possible Republican presidential nominee.

“Well, I think JD Vance would be a great nominee … if he decides he wants to do that,” Rubio replied. “And so … I think he’s doing a great job as vice president. He’s a close friend, and I hope he intends to do it.”

The secretary added that he would like to stay in his position until the end of President Donald Trump’s term, which he said would exclude him from campaigning for the White House.

“Being in the role that I’m in here as the secretary of state, I really don’t play in politics. There’s actually rules against me being involved in domestic politics,” Rubio explained. “And I want to do this job as long as the president allows me to do it, and stay in that job, which would keep me here all the way through, you know, January of [2029].”

Rubio also told Lara Trump he would be satisfied if his work in the Department of State represented the peak of his career.

“I believe that if I am able to be here through the duration of this presidency, and we get things done at the pace that we’ve been doing the last six months, I’ll be able to look back at my time in public service and say I made a difference, I had an impact, and I served my country in a very positive way. And I would be satisfied with that as the apex of my career,” he said. “So that’s what I’m focused on right now, because we’re doing some special things that I think are gonna bear dividends and fruit for a generation.”

President Trump named Vance and Rubio in May as potential candidates to succeed him in the White House. NBC News’s “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker had asked the president whether Vance would be “at the top of the list.”

“It could very well be – I don’t wanna get involved in that. I think he’s a fantastic, brilliant guy. Marco is great, there’s a lot of them that are great,” Trump said. “I also see tremendous unity, but certainly you would say that somebody’s the VP, if that person is outstanding, I guess that person would have an advantage.”

“But, you know, it could be that he’d be challenged by somebody. We have a lot of good people in this party,” the president added.

Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com.