President Donald Trump said Tuesday he has never discussed a 2028 presidential endorsement with Vice President JD Vance, despite Vance’s recent remarks suggesting otherwise.
At a White House event, Trump told reporters: “He’s a very talented person, and he’s a very good person, but we’ve literally — I don’t think we’ve ever talked about it.” The president added that it remains “very early right now” to consider endorsements, emphasizing the need to focus on the upcoming Nov. 3 midterm elections before addressing 2028.
Vance, standing beside Trump during the event, had previously stated in a Monday interview with journalist Mark Halperin that he believes Trump would back him if he runs for president. “I think if I run, the president will endorse me,” Vance said. He also acknowledged that the two have not yet discussed the matter directly.
Trump’s comments follow his recent endorsement of Senate candidate Ted Cruz in Texas, demonstrating his influence in Republican primaries. The president has historically used endorsements to sway elections, though he did not commit to supporting Vance in 2028.
The vice president also suggested that Trump might choose not to preemptively endorse any candidate, stating: “You could absolutely see a scenario where the president says, ‘We need to let this race play out,’ and not like preemptively prejudge the results.”
The GOP currently holds narrow majorities in both the House and Senate, with the midterms poised to determine control of Congress. Trump is scheduled to attend a rally in North Carolina ahead of the elections.