With the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution barring presidents from serving more than two terms, President Donald Trump’s re-election in 2024 set the stage for a new era in Republican politics. As Trump’s final term unfolds, speculation is mounting across the political spectrum: will the MAGA movement, defined so strongly by Trump’s personality, endure beyond his presidency? And if so, who will inherit its mantle?
All eyes are on Vice President JD Vance, widely seen as the frontrunner to inherit Trump’s base and the leadership of the MAGA coalition. Vance’s recent actions and public persona suggest he’s not just following in Trump’s footsteps, but actively shaping the movement’s next chapter—sometimes with his own twist.
Vance’s rise has been closely tied to high-profile moments and his ability to navigate the ever-evolving world of political spectacle. After the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, it was Vance who stepped into the spotlight, eulogizing Kirk and fortifying his own image as a defender of Christian populism. Over the past year, he’s worked tirelessly to build relationships with MAGA-aligned advocacy groups, think tanks, influencers, podcasters, and donors, solidifying his position as the movement’s likely torchbearer.
But Vance is not a carbon copy of Trump. While he echoes Trump’s hardline stances on illegal immigration, trade, and tariffs, he’s notably more skeptical about America’s traditional global security alliances. According to reporting, Vance has repeatedly criticized NATO and has shown little public enthusiasm for defending Taiwan should China invade. He’s expressed reluctance to deepen U.S. involvement in Ukraine or the ongoing conflict in Gaza, diverging from Trump’s more interventionist diplomatic approach.
On domestic issues, Vance’s background as a converted conservative Catholic signals a shift in the movement’s cultural orientation. He’s expected to be more assertive in expanding religious liberty protections and more receptive to pro-life advocates, a contrast to Trump’s sometimes arm’s-length relationship with these groups. As the debate continues over whether “Trumpism” can survive without Trump, Vance’s nuanced positions are beginning to shape the answer.
This political crossroads isn’t unique to America. The question of whether a movement built on a singular, outsized personality can endure has played out elsewhere—most notably in Italy. There, Giorgia Meloni emerged as a powerful populist voice after the fall of Silvio Berlusconi, the billionaire media magnate and former prime minister whose personality and politics dominated Italian life for nearly two decades.
Meloni, who became the youngest minister in Berlusconi’s government at 31, recognized early that she could not replicate his cult of personality. Instead, she co-founded the populist Fratelli d’Italia Party in 2012, forging a new path that emphasized policy and national identity over ego-driven leadership. By 2022, Meloni had been elected prime minister, and her “common-sense” governing style—marked by an end to open immigration, skepticism of foreign entanglements, robust free speech protections, and a defense of traditional marriage and national sovereignty—helped unite the Italian right and transform the country’s political landscape. Berlusconi’s death in 2023 only underscored the magnitude of her achievement.
For Vance, Meloni’s trajectory offers a compelling blueprint. Like Meloni, he faces the challenge of following a leader whose sheer force of personality has defined an era. According to analysis, both Vance and Meloni share a direct, no-nonsense approach to governance, a populist policy agenda, and a focus on national sovereignty. Both are skeptical of free trade and global institutions, wary of foreign military entanglements, and committed to preserving what they see as the core values of Western civilization.
Yet the American political arena is nothing if not unpredictable—and often, it’s the spectacle that grabs headlines. On October 18, 2025, the country witnessed the latest chapter in the ongoing culture war, as thousands participated in nationwide “No Kings” rallies. Led by Democratic politicians and leftist activists, these protests targeted the Trump administration and, by extension, the MAGA movement itself. The rallies followed earlier demonstrations in June, which coincided with the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary parade and Trump’s 79th birthday.
President Trump, never one to shy away from a media moment, responded on social media by sharing a 19-second AI-generated video. In the clip, Trump pilots a fighter jet named “King Trump” and drops a brown liquid—widely interpreted as feces—on “No Kings” protesters in New York City’s Times Square, all set to the rousing strains of Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone.” Among those depicted was liberal commentator Harry Sisson, who had previously taunted Trump on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “That plane wouldn’t have made it off the ground with your fatass in the pilot’s seat.”
Sisson’s outrage at the video quickly became a social media flashpoint. He posted, “Can a reporter please ask Trump why he posted an AI video of himself dropping poop on me from a fighter jet? That would be great thanks.” Vice President Vance, never missing a beat, replied, “I’ll ask him for you Harry.” The exchange, widely covered by outlets including NBC News, illustrated Vance’s comfort with the performative aspects of modern politics—and his willingness to engage in the very online battles that animate the MAGA base.
The protests themselves highlighted divisions not just between left and right, but within the Democratic coalition. Some rallygoers voiced frustration with their own party’s leadership, describing it as disorganized and lacking a clear message. “I don’t have a lot of faith in the Democrats right now,” one protester told NBC News. “They don’t seem to have a lot of spine or a single message. They’re just too disorganized to put up a good fight against this bulls. It pains me to say it, but Trump’s goons are f*** organized compared to the Dems right now.”
Controversy also erupted over the presence of Palestinian flags at the protests, with critics questioning the demonstrators’ intentions in light of Trump’s mediation of a Gaza peace deal. The symbolism of the rallies, the viral videos, and the online sparring all point to a political culture increasingly defined by spectacle and symbolism as much as by substance.
Amidst all this, recent polls show Vance as the leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028 and the preferred successor to Trump. Whether he can channel the lessons of leaders like Meloni, adapt the MAGA movement to new realities, and carve out his own legacy remains to be seen. But as the political world watches, the blueprint—and the challenge—are clear.
As America stands at the brink of a post-Trump era, the question isn’t just who will lead the Republican Party, but what kind of movement will emerge in the years ahead. For JD Vance, the path forward is as fraught as it is full of opportunity, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.