Vance invites Rubio comparisons with briefing room jokes but both stand in Trump’s shadow

Published May 19, 2026 4:18pm ET | Updated May 19, 2026 4:18pm ET



When JD Vance took the podium in the White House briefing room on Tuesday, he wasn’t just standing in for press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is on maternity leave.

He was the second of two presidential hopefuls to audition in front of the assembled White House press corps.

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