The book reports Rupert Murdoch replied cautiously, telling Trump "I think JD has the potential to be great" while describing Rubio as "brilliant." Haberman and Swan draw on extensive anonymous interviews and note those mentioned were contacted for comment.
The episode is presented as an example of Trump informally testing the views of influential figures while weighing loyalties and future prospects. The authors also note Murdoch had previously discouraged selecting Vance as a 2024 running mate, adding context to the exchange.