Vice-President J.D. Vance's Press Secretary Stint Sparks Speculation on Republican Succession

An early glimpse of the battle to succeed US President Donald Trump atop the Republican ticket played out last week in classic Trumpian fashion when Vice-President J.D. Vance was temporarily demoted to play press secretary. His hour-long spell fielding questions from the White House “lion’s den” press corps included statements chiding the media and the obligatory denial for ambitious politicians. “This is crazy. You guys have got to behave yourself,” he told reporters, before adding: “I’m not a future candidate, I’m a vice-president. And I really like my job.” The early reviews in the press secretary beauty contest appeared to favour Rubio, who joked, jousted and quoted hip-hop lyrics with reporters while most of Vance’s attempts at humour fell flat.