Ken Griffin, one of the Republican Party's biggest financial backers, signaled at a private gathering this week that he would support Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a potential 2028 presidential primary battle against Vice President JD Vance.
The billionaire investor made the remarks during an interview at the exclusive Allen & Company conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, where he was questioned by New York Times financial columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin about which candidate he'd back if both ran for the GOP nomination.
Griffin, who gave more than $100 million to Republican candidates and causes in 2024, noted his longstanding relationship with Rubio. He had previously supported the secretary of state during his unsuccessful 2024 bid for the White House and suggested he would be naturally inclined to do so again.
The moment reveals a widening fault line within the Republican Party. Establishment-leaning donors like Griffin favor Rubio, while anti-establishment figures have gravitated toward Vance, particularly because of the vice president's skepticism about U.S. involvement in foreign military engagements.
Rubio has already indicated he would step aside if Vance decides to run, a move that appears likely given the vice president's position in the Trump administration. The secretary of state has deferred to his running mate publicly, complicating the picture for potential challengers.
Griffin's preference carries substantial weight in GOP circles. He ranks as the fifth-largest donor of the 2024 election cycle and remains a major player in party fundraising efforts. His support could prove instrumental for any candidate seeking to build a competitive primary operation.
The episode adds complexity to Griffin's relationship with Trump. The billionaire once openly criticized the former president and called for the party to move beyond him in 2022. He backed Nikki Haley over Trump in last year's primary and notably did not contribute to Trump's general election campaign.
Since Trump's general election victory, Griffin has worked to mend fences, including attending a November dinner at the White House with other Wall Street executives. During Trump's vice presidential selection process, Griffin had privately urged the future president not to choose Vance, according to reporting on the transition.
A spokesperson for Griffin declined to comment on his 2028 preference.
Author James Rodriguez: "Griffin's candid remarks at Sun Valley suggest the money behind the GOP is already sorting out its 2028 playbook, and establishment Republicans aren't prepared to hand Vance a coronation."
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