An AI-driven prediction regarding who will become the next President of the United States when Donald Trump’s second four-year term is up in 2029 is causing a stir.

Given the tumultuous nature of Trump’s current White House tenure, and the fact that he’s only been back in office a little over a year, it makes sense to assume a whole lot can and will happen between now and the day he’s replaced by someone else.

Yet with the political battlefield in the US more divided than ever, people are already turning their attentions to who stands the best chance at either furthering Trump’s agenda when he’s no longer in the big seat, or trying to put out the many flames started by his actions.

To that end, a simulation using AI – published by the I Ask AI YouTube channel – has tried to figure out what the 2028 U.S. election could look like, analyzing political trends, polling dynamics, and candidate positioning to attempt to paint a clearer picture as to who might win, and why.

As far as the Republican party go, the two candidates who may well be pitted against one another are current Vice President JD Vance and current Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The AI believed that the difference between the roles both men currently have could be a determining factor.

WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 07: U.S. Vice President JD Vance (C) and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio look on during a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office of the White House on October 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. Carney visited the White House earlier in the year after he was elected prime minister. Carney and Trump will meet in the Oval Office and later have a bilateral lunch where they are expected to discuss a range of topics including U.S. tariffs. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
It explained: “That’s the key distinction. Rubio carries Trump baggage, but not the same amount. He’s Secretary of State, not Vice President.”

It added: “There’s a meaningful difference between I served in the administration and I was the guy standing right next to him for everything.”

The model went further by outlining that Rubio would have an easier time distancing himself from certain domestic controversies that might harm Vance.

“Rubio can credibly say he was focused on foreign policy while the domestic chaos was happening,” the model said. “Vance can’t make that argument at all.”

All that said, the AI believed that Vance should still be considered the favorite of the two at the moment.

“Rubio won’t overtake Vance by doing anything bold. He’ll only get there if Vance stumbles… You’re basically waiting for someone else to fail rather than making your own case,” it said.

According to the model, however, there are scenarios wherein the momentum swings the other way, not least due to the unpredictable nature of Donald Trump and his politics.

“By 2028, Trump’s approval will have dragged Vance down too far to recover,” the AI said of one potential scenario. “The guy standing next to Trump for four years owns every bad decision, every scandal, every economic complaint.”

The AI even predicted the POTUS’s potential role in that scenario, stating: “When Trump sees the writing on the wall and blesses Rubio instead, the primary is over. Republican voters follow Trump’s endorsement like gravity.”

Over on the blue side, meanwhile, the AI believed not only that Gavin Newsome would win the Democratic ticket, but that he’d beat his Republican counterpart, whoever that may be.

“Newsome wins barely,” it said. “The fundamental reason is exhaustion… Voters are ready to turn the page.”

What do you think will happen during the next US election? Let us know in the comments.