Trump Says It’s ‘Way Too Early’ to Endorse JD Vance for 2028 Despite Reports of Private Support
President Donald Trump is pushing back on reports that he has already settled on Vice President JD Vance as his preferred successor in 2028, saying Thursday that it is far too early to make an official endorsement in the next Republican presidential race.
Trump was responding to a Washington Post report claiming he privately told Republican donors during an Oval Office meeting roughly two weeks ago that Vance should eventually become the GOP nominee. According to the report, Trump told the group that “at the end of the day, we need to elect JD.” Fox News subsequently confirmed the reported remarks.
Asked directly Thursday whether those comments amounted to an endorsement of Vance, Trump said no. The president praised his vice president but stressed that Republicans are still years away from choosing their next presidential nominee and that he has not formally backed anyone.
“I think he’s great, but we’re way too early to even be thinking about that,” Trump told reporters. The response leaves open the question of whom the president will eventually support once the 2028 Republican primary begins taking shape.
Trump has repeatedly spoken highly of both Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio when discussing the future of the Republican Party. He has even floated the possibility of the two men eventually sharing a presidential ticket, describing Vance and Rubio as a potential “dream team” without specifying which one would run for president.
Vance has embraced the speculation with humor. Earlier this summer, he joked about Trump drawing on his experience hosting “The Apprentice” and allowing a public competition over who will eventually succeed him. Vance has also emphasized that he and Rubio are friends despite persistent questions about whether they could become rivals in a future Republican primary.
The vice president has stopped short of announcing a presidential campaign. In June, Vance said he planned to discuss a potential 2028 run with his wife, Usha, after the midterm elections. He also expressed confidence that Trump would be supportive regardless of the decision he ultimately makes.
For now, Trump is keeping his options open publicly even as reports suggest he has privately expressed strong support for Vance. The president’s comments make clear that no formal endorsement is coming yet, leaving the Republican succession battle unresolved as Vance, Rubio and other potential contenders position themselves for the party’s post-Trump future.