JD Vance jokes Trump would not run White House like ‘The Apprentice’ amid 2028 buzz

WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President JD Vance joked Wednesday, May 13, that President Donald Trump would never run White House succession planning like his former reality show ‘The Apprentice’ as speculation continues building around the Republican Party’s 2028 future.

Vance made the remark while brushing off chatter surrounding a possible future Republican ticket involving himself and Secretary of State Marco Rubio after Trump recently described the pair as a potential “dream team."

JD Vance dismisses 2028 speculation involving Marco Rubio

The conversation unfolded during a news conference centered on the administration’s crackdown on fraud, waste and abuse.

Reporters repeatedly pressed Vance about growing speculation surrounding the Republican Party’s future after Trump publicly praised both him and Rubio earlier this week.

Trump sparked conversations Monday while speaking to supporters during an appearance.

“Who likes J.D. Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio? All right. Sounds like a good ticket,” Trump said. “By the way, I do believe that’s a dream team.”

The comments quickly fueled discussions about who could eventually carry the MAGA movement forward after Trump’s second term.

But Vance attempted to cool the speculation and insisted neither he nor Rubio was focused on future campaigns.

“I love Marco. I think he’s a great secretary of state. He’s become a very, very dear friend,” Vance said. “But I think both of us are very much focused on accomplishing the American people’s business right now.”

JD Vance compares Trump succession talk to ‘The Apprentice’

The tone turned lighter when another reporter asked Vance whether the media was exaggerating possible tension between him and Rubio as early 2028 conversations begin circulating in Washington.

That was when Vance delivered the line that quickly gained attention online.

“I just don’t think it sounds like the president of the United States to have a televised competition for who would succeed him as his apprentice,” Vance quipped.

“I just think that’s not at all what you would expect the president to do,” he added.

The joke referenced Trump’s years hosting NBC’s reality series ‘The Apprentice,’ where contestants publicly competed for his approval.

Vance later said Trump was simply joking when he floated the idea of a Vance-Rubio ticket.

“I think it’s natural for him to joke around with us a little bit to play around with the idea,” Vance explained. “But I can tell you the president is as focused as any of us on making sure we do as good of a job now for the American people.”

JD Vance says he is focused on current role, not 2028 race

Vance also stressed that he does not want to appear focused on another political office while still early in his vice presidency.

He acknowledged that discussions about 2028 are among his least favorite political topics.

“If I was the American people, there are a few things that I would hate more than a person who’s barely been in one office for a year and a half, is angling for a job two and a half years down the road,” Vance said, referring to himself.

The vice president has repeatedly dismissed narratives suggesting friction between him and Rubio as both men continue playing prominent roles in Trump’s administration.

Vance previously accused the media of trying to manufacture conflict between the two Republicans as conversations surrounding the future of the GOP intensify.

Wednesday’s news conference also came as Trump remained overseas in China for high-stakes meetings alongside senior administration officials, including Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Meanwhile, Vance has continued leading the administration’s White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, one of his biggest policy initiatives since taking office.