"He's doing a great job, and he would probably be favored at this point," Trump said when asked who may lead the GOP after his second term ends.

While Vance has been positioned as President Donald Trump 's understudy, there is a groundswell of support for another Republican figure among party activists and voters.

It wasn't a full-fledged endorsement, but President Donald Trump gave the clearest indication yet on who he considered to be his heir.