Vice President JD Vance says he will weigh a presidential run in 2028 only after the 2026 midterm elections, offering a measured view of his political future during a recent television interview.
Speaking with CBS Sunday Morning about his new memoir on his conversion to Catholicism, Vance outlined his deliberative approach to major life decisions. "Usha and I will absolutely sit down and talk about what comes next for our family," he said, referring to his wife. "The way that I make decisions is that I try not to make them until I absolutely must."
The vice president expects backing from Donald Trump if he decides to seek the nomination. "I have no doubt that the president of the United States is going to be very supportive of anything that I ultimately decide to do," Vance said.
Trump has broached the subject repeatedly, though Vance said the conversations remain exploratory rather than directive. "I never bring it up," Vance explained. "But sure, the president brings it up a lot, sometimes publicly, sometimes privately. The president's a political animal. He loves this stuff. He's very fascinated by it." When pressed on whether Trump had explicitly encouraged him to pursue the nomination, Vance described the tone as neither positive nor negative. "It's more of a conversation like that," he said, emphasizing Trump's interest in broader questions about party success.
Vance has emerged as a leading Republican prospect for 2028. Other potential contenders include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who previously ran for president, and Donald Trump Jr., who has expressed interest in higher office. The Washington Post reported that Vance may have been in no rush to announce plans partly because of his fourth child's expected arrival in July.
Author James Rodriguez: "Vance's reluctance to lock into a timeline reflects smart politics in an uncertain environment, though Trump's frequent mentions suggest the dynamic may shift faster than the VP wants."
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