Rupert Murdoch privately offered a more favorable assessment of Secretary of State Marco Rubio than Vice President JD Vance during a conversation with President Donald Trump last year, according to a forthcoming book that sheds new light on early positioning ahead of the 2028 Republican presidential race.

An excerpt published Wednesday by Axios from "Regime Change," a book by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, recounts an October 2025 dinner during which Trump sought Murdoch's views on two of the Republican Party's most prominent rising figures.

While Murdoch suggested Vance could eventually become a major political force, he reserved his highest praise for Rubio, describing the secretary of state as "brilliant," according to the account.

The reported exchange comes as Republicans increasingly look beyond Trump's second term and speculate about who could emerge as the party's next leader after he leaves office. Both Rubio and Vance have emerged as prominent names in discussions about the GOP's future, though neither has launched a presidential campaign.

Murdoch's comments are notable given his longstanding influence in conservative media and GOP politics. The media billionaire has often played a significant role in shaping political narratives and elevating GOP figures, making his private views of interest to strategists and donors.

The book also suggests Vance cannot assume Trump's backing in a future White House bid. According to Haberman and Swan, Trump has shown little inclination to anoint a successor and may instead encourage competition among prospective candidates.

That dynamic could complicate Vance's position despite the advantages traditionally associated with serving as vice president.

Historically, vice presidents have often entered presidential primaries as front-runners, but Trump's influence within the Republican Party has frequently upended traditional political expectations.

Rubio, meanwhile, has raised his profile significantly since joining Trump's Cabinet. Once a rival of Trump's during the 2016 Republican primary, the former Florida senator has become one of the administration's most visible figures on foreign policy.