How Operation Epic Fury is reshaping the 2028 Republican race
Beyond the deaths of 13 American soldiers, plummeting oil prices and a regional war sparked in the Middle East, Operation Epic Fury also detonated a grenade during the 2028 Republican primary.
With polls showing Vice President JD Vance as the undisputed heir, a new frontrunner is emerging from the shadows of the West Wing amid the Iran war, and he’s wearing a “velvet glove.”
How Operation Epic Fury shakes up the MAGA succession:
Since the strikes began on February 28, the power dynamics in Washington have changed. While Vice President Vance has largely remained on the sidelines, Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio has been thrust into the spotlight.
Rubio is no longer just a diplomat. He is the principal architect and public face of this war.
And the results appear on prediction markets. In just three months, Rubio’s chances for the 2028 presidential election have skyrocketed from a measly 6% to 18%, leaving him just one point behind vice president.
So where is JD Vance?
The man who built his brand by opposing “stupid wars” and foreign interventions is now in dire straits, political analysts say. Reports from Trump administration insiders suggest Vance is “skeptical of escalation.”
Yet his public statements remain firmly aligned with those of the president. In a speech to North Carolina voters, he devoted only a few sentences to the war, describing it strictly as a mission to prevent a nuclear Iran.
His team dismisses leaks about Mr. Vance’s alleged skepticism as mainstream media noise.
But even the president is listening to the new dynamic. At a recent donor event at Mar-a-Lago, when Trump asked the crowd who he should support for 2028, the cheers for Rubio were significantly louder than those for Vance.
Marco Rubio’s path to the top is paved by his dual role, balancing the MAGA base with the establishment. He becomes a bridge builder in a divided party. His strike defense is surgical.
The objectives of this mission are clear, and it is important to continue to remind the American people why the greatest military in world history is engaged in this operation. This is about destroying this regime’s ability to launch missiles, both by destroying their missiles and launchers, by destroying the factories that make these missiles, and by destroying their navy.
– Dry. Marco RubioTrump’s assessment of the two men speaks volumes and shows that he is not necessarily playing favorites. He calls Vance “tough,” but says Rubio “does it with a velvet glove.” In any case, it is a massacre, according to the president.
However, if we look at the raw data, Vance undoubtedly remains the man to beat in 2028.
The latest McLaughlin & Associates poll puts him in the lead at 36%, while Rubio, although up, is still at 10%.
Vance also has the support of the Turning Point USA PAC, which represents the youth vote. He also has a huge head start when it comes to name recognition. But as any political analyst will tell you, momentum is a volatile currency.
Operation Epic Fury is only three weeks old. If this war drags on and the economic ravages of the stock market continue, Vance’s past skepticism might look like foresight. But if Rubio wins what Trump considers a historic victory, the heir apparent could find himself staring at the back of a Rubio 2028 campaign bus.
For The Washington Times, my name is Susan Ferrechio.
Read more: Iran war upends JD Vance and Marco Rubio’s 2028 plans
