JD Vance is the leading 2028 GOP contender, but Trump says it's ‘too early’ to back him

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has stopped short of endorsing Vice President JD Vance for the 2028 presidential race, saying the party has several strong potential candidates and that it is still too early to decide on his successor.

The comments come as Vance is positioned as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, despite not having officially announced his candidacy. Vance has emphasized that any decision regarding his candidacy would depend on the results of the 2026 midterm elections.

Trump weighs in on JD Vance’s 2028 prospects

Asked whether he would back Vance for the White House in 2028, Trump said, “It’s too early. He’s terrific… We have a very deep bench… They’re all very good."

The vice president received strong support from Republican grassroots members at the party’s midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, where the crowd repeatedly chanted “JD! 48!" The chants signaled enthusiasm for Vance as a potential Republican nominee in 2028.

Vance was dismissive of the speculation, saying that it was "premature" to talk about the 2028 campaign and that he wanted to wait until after the midterms to make his decision.

In the meantime, he said he was focused on helping his party hold the congressional majority in November.

Trump has also said that it was too early to think about the succession while indicating that a JD Vance-Marco Rubio ticket would be an "ideal team," with no clarification as to who he thought should be president and who should be vice president.

JD Vance leads early GOP polling

Despite the absence of a formal campaign, Vance has a sizeable lead over other potential Republican contenders.

A Focaldata/Financial Times poll conducted recently found Vance at 43% among Republican primary voters, more than 20 percentage points ahead of his closest rival.

Earlier, RealClearPolitics averages placed Vance at close to 49% for the 2028 Republican nomination. He was well ahead of Donald Trump Jr, Rubio, and other potential candidates.

Within the Republican Party, several activists and donors already view Vance as the natural successor to Trump. However, some Republicans continue to consider alternatives, including Rubio, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

Vance's team has focused on running for the 2028 race while avoiding an official announcement.

He has campaigned for Trump in the 2026 midterms, using the platform to build a national fundraising and activist base while also promoting himself as one of Trump's top spokespeople and defenders of the MAGA agenda, including needing to campaign hard in early presidential primary states like Iowa. 

Vance is also likely to wait until after the midterms to gauge both the outcome of the races and Trump's reaction before announcing his own plans.

Rubio, who is serving as secretary of state, is the open alternative to Vance, and he too has suggested that it is "premature" to talk about the 2028 campaign, let alone consider becoming a nominee.