Since Karoline Leavitt, White House spokesperson, began her maternity leave on 1/5, two senior members of US President Donald Trump's cabinet, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have been alternating in leading press briefings at the White House.

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, who served during Trump's first term, indicated this sends a notable message. Both Vance and Rubio are potential candidates for the 2028 US presidential election, making their prominent roles significant.

The press briefings hosted by Vance and Rubio. Video: The Hill.

According to Spicer, allowing Rubio and Vance to garner media attention for Trump's agenda is a smart move. These press briefings serve as a platform for them to showcase their abilities and engage with the public.

"Everyone is willing to participate and test their abilities, and the President is clearly very interested in each person's performance, as well as keeping things interesting," Spicer said. "They have different approaches and styles, but are both humorous, relaxed, and well-versed in the issues."

The former press secretary also described Vice President Vance as having an "aggressive" attitude with some reporters when leading press briefings.

"He's like he's breaking down the premise of the question," Spicer said, noting Vance's ability to quickly get to the core of the issue.

Vice President JD Vance points to a reporter allowed to ask a question during a White House press briefing on 19/5. Photo: AP.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Rubio often displays a relaxed demeanor and delivers monologues expressing his hopes for America's future. His remarks occasionally feature quotes from 90s hip-hop lyrics, adding an unexpected element to his briefings.

The topics of questions for these two senior officials in press briefings also differ. While reporters delved into controversies surrounding the Trump administration's USD 1.8 billion "Anti-Chemical Weapons Fund" during Vance's sessions, Rubio spent most of his time addressing questions related to the ongoing conflict with Iran.

The former White House spokesperson believes that the US media takes a more aggressive stance towards the Vice President, by dispatching their most seasoned political journalists to attend press briefings hosted by Vance.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio makes reporters attending the press briefing laugh when appearing from behind a retractable door on 5/5 at the White House. Photo: Telegraph.

ABC News, for example, assigned White House bureau chief Mary Bruce to attend the press briefing hosted by Secretary of State Rubio. However, for the press briefing hosted by Vance, the network sent its Washington bureau chief, Jon Karl, a veteran and incisive reporter, to question the Vice President.

Similarly, CNN sent its White House bureau chief, Kaitlan Collins, to question Vance, but only assigned White House reporter Alayna Treene to Rubio's session. This indicates a perceived difference in the gravitas of the briefings.

Spicer believes that Kaitlan Collins typically appears at important press briefings, where she can "make a mark" through sharp questions for the host, reinforcing the idea of a more challenging environment for Vance.

Spicer concluded that despite their different styles, the Vice President and Secretary of State both "deserve an A" for their performance in the press briefings, filling in for Leavitt's role.

Hong Hanh (Source: Mass Live)