Trump Says It Is ‘Too Early’ To Endorse JD Vance For 2028 Presidential Run

September 14, 2026

Shannon, Ireland: US President Donald Trump has adopted a cautious approach when asked whether he would endorse Vice President JD Vance for the 2028 presidential race, saying it is “too early” to make such a decision.

The exchange took place as Trump spoke to reporters before boarding Air Force One in Shannon, Ireland.

When asked whether he was ready to throw his support behind Vance for 2028, Trump said, “Well, it’s too early. I mean, it’s too early. I think he’s terrific. We’ve got so many terrific people. We have, as they call it, a very deep bench.”

Asked who could prove to be the strongest competitor against Vance, Trump replied, “You know, I just think they’re all very good, and JD’s fantastic, and he did a very good job.”

Trump Previously Spoke More Directly About Vance’s Future

In August, a report by The Washington Post said Trump had spoken more directly about Vance’s potential presidential candidacy during a private meeting with donors at the Oval Office.

According to the report, Trump told attendees, “At the end of the day, we need to elect JD.”

Citing people familiar with the exchange, the report said the private remarks indicated Trump’s openness to eventually backing Vance. However, advisers cautioned that Trump had not firmly settled on a successor and was continuing to weigh Vance against Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Internal discussions at the time reportedly showed Trump frequently asking aides to compare Vance and Rubio, including informally polling staff during a Marine One flight.

Vance And Rubio Remain In Focus For 2028

While a key adviser said in August that Trump had privately concluded Vance would inherit the MAGA movement, multiple Republican Party insiders stressed that any assumptions about the 2028 race remain premature.

They noted that Trump often considers different perspectives and that the direction of the GOP could ultimately depend significantly on the outcome of the upcoming congressional midterm elections.

The evolving succession debate has already begun shaping intraparty alignments, with donors and activists appearing to gravitate towards different factions.

Meanwhile, Vance has kept his timeline flexible, indicating that decisions about a formal presidential run would be addressed after the midterm elections scheduled for November.

Rubio, meanwhile, has avoided directly commenting on his 2028 ambitions, although allies suggest Trump continues to hold both men in high regard. This leaves open the possibility of a future unified ticket even as competition over the GOP’s post-Trump direction begins to take shape.