Marco Rubio has emerged as an early favorite in betting markets for the 2028 presidential race following reports of strong donor support during a private meeting at Mar-a-Lago hosted by Donald Trump.

According to accounts from several attendees, Trump asked a group of roughly two dozen Republican donors whom they would prefer he support as his successor in the 2028 election: Vice President J. D. Vance or Rubio.

Donors reportedly responded with strong enthusiasm for Rubio. One attendee described the reaction as “almost unanimous,” while another confirmed that the support for the secretary of state was clearly evident during the discussion. A separate source said the response in the room appeared more evenly split between Rubio and Vance.

The meeting reportedly included prominent donors such as Robert Kraft and billionaire Georgia gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson.

Rubio has built a long résumé within Republican politics. Before joining the administration, he served for 14 years in the United States Senate representing Florida. In the current administration, he has held several prominent roles, including secretary of state, interim national security adviser, acting head of the National Archives and Records Administration, and acting administrator of the United States Agency for International Development.

His growing influence inside the administration has also sparked jokes online, with memes suggesting Rubio is frequently tapped to fill new roles whenever openings arise within the government.

Despite the speculation, Rubio has publicly downplayed talk of a potential primary contest with Vance. The Florida Republican previously ran for president in 2016 but has indicated support for the vice president when asked about the possibility of a future race.

With the next presidential election cycle still years away, early polling and prediction markets remain fluid, but the donor meeting has intensified speculation about who could ultimately carry Trump’s political movement into the next decade.