Vice President JD Vance has dismissed growing speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run, saying it is “way too early” to consider future campaigns while emphasizing his current role in the Trump administration.
Questions about Vance’s political ambitions intensified after President Donald Trump told reporters on August 5 that the vice president was “most likely” the heir to the MAGA movement. While stopping short of a formal endorsement, Trump said Vance would “probably be favored at this point” and suggested that Secretary of State Marco Rubio might “get together with JD in some form.”
Speaking on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, Vance said he and Rubio laughed off the speculation when they met a month earlier. “Neither one of us are focused on politics. We’re focused on actually doing a good job for the American people,” Vance said. “If we do a good job, that’s the reward in and of itself. The politics will take care of itself.”
Vance stressed it was premature to discuss his political future. “It’s frankly way too early to be thinking about 2026,” he said, referring to next year’s midterm elections. “It’s certainly way too early to be thinking about 2028.”
Rubio, who ran for president in 2016, praised Vance in a July interview with Fox News host Lara Trump, calling him a “close friend” and a “great vice president.” Rubio said he believes Vance would make a strong GOP nominee in 2028, but added that he keeps his own options open. “You never know what the future holds; you never rule things out,” Rubio said. “Things change very quickly.”
For now, both men insist their priority is governing rather than campaigning, even as early positioning for the 2028 race begins to draw attention in Washington.