'Surprising' whispers in MAGA circles threaten Trump’s heir apparent: report

President Donald Trump's second term was supposed to leave behind an heir to the MAGA movement, but the vice president's chances for that may be slipping away.

According to MS NOW political analyst Matthew Bartlett, JD Vance is not winning supporters. The young, energetic ex-internet influencer is prompting "surprising" comments from MAGA: "JD Vance sucks."

Writing on Monday, Bartlett said that it isn't unusual to hear negative remarks from Democrats about Vance, but more and more, the sentiment is coming from conservative circles as well.

Behind the scenes, Trump is reportedly asking friends and advisers whether the heir should be Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

"That question alone is a telling admission about the president’s thoughts about his own vice president," wrote Bartlett.

Last week, Politico reported that “some of President Donald Trump’s closest confidantes increasingly see Marco Rubio as a serious 2028 contender," cited Bartlett. Meanwhile, Semafor published a story titled “Why it’s still JD Vance." The headline alone sparked questions about whether doubts and alarms are more widespread in Washington.

Bartlett said that prominent conservatives and state-based activists are "griping" that Vance isn't utilizing his position to prop himself up as the next guy.

"They bemoan that he should be hosting grassroots leaders across the country and keeping Trump’s winning MAGA coalition together. Even some leading Republican and MAGA activists do not have close relationships with the vice president. Some say that when you call the White House, Trump calls you back. When you call Vance’s office, however, it takes a while to get a response, if you get one at all," explained Bartlett.

Vance was chosen as a gift to the base, the column explained. He was "the next standard bearer of the president's new coalition." The problem is that he has become more of a candidate without any real political identity. It wasn't that long ago that Vance was calling Trump "America's Hitler.

"As a political journeyman, no one truly knows what beliefs he genuinely holds, absent Trump telling him," wrote Bartlett.

Bartlett explained that it's difficult to make a political career out of the VP spot when "your sole job is to follow."

In Trump's world, another barrier can also be not getting more attention or credit than the boss, which former top adviser Steve Bannon learned, as Frank Bruni described in the New York Times in 2017.

Bartlett noted that in previous administrations, losing party players meant a post in the Cabinet or a springboard into something larger. In the Trump era, anyone who opposes Trump is considered an enemy. Anyone who disagrees with his policy issues, like the Iran war or tariffs, can be destroyed by Trump on social media. It gives little oxygen for anyone to break away. It comes at a time when Trump's policies aren't popular and he's at a record-low approval rating.

"And while it is likely that Trump wants a wide-open primary where he gets to resume his 'Apprentice' persona and judge a big 2028 primary field, the reality of the race may be decided if Trump tells Vance to step aside for Rubio," Bartlett closed. "If that happens, not only will the MAGA base polling change overnight, but it will be virtually impossible for anyone else to mount a serious run for the nomination."

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