Billionaire Republican donor Ken Griffin declared at a private conference Wednesday that he would support Secretary of State Marco Rubio over Vice President JD Vance in a 2028 GOP presidential primary, Axios reported. The disclosure, made during a Q&A at the Allen & Company gathering in Sun Valley, Idaho, points to an emerging rift within the party.
Griffin, who gave over $100 million in the 2024 election cycle, represents the establishment wing that favors Rubio's traditional foreign policy approach. His preference contrasts with anti-establishment figures who back Vance, partly due to the vice president's skepticism of U.S. involvement in overseas conflicts.
During the interview with New York Times columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, Griffin noted his history of backing Rubio, having donated to the secretary of state's unsuccessful 2016 presidential campaign. The megadonor said he would be "predisposed" to support Rubio again.
The endorsement signals potential financial muscle for a Rubio bid, though no formal campaign has been announced. The 2028 race remains distant, but such early positioning often shapes donor networks and party strategy.
Critics argue that primary preferences expressed years in advance rarely hold, particularly as political landscapes shift. Griffin's backing may also carry less weight if other major donors coalesce around a different candidate.