Trump sidesteps 2028 endorsement for JD Vance after vice president predicts his backing

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Tuesday, October 20, declined to commit to endorsing Vice President JD Vance in the 2028 presidential elections, calling the question premature, even after Vance said that he expected to receive the president’s backing if he entered the race. 

Speaking alongside Vance in the Oval Office, Trump praised the vice president but said they had not discussed a potential presidential campaign. Vance has maintained that his immediate priority is helping Republicans retain their congressional majorities in the upcoming midterm elections.

Trump calls Vance ‘talented’ but says 2028 endorsement is premature

When asked whether he would endorse Vance for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028, Trump responded that Vance “is a very talented person and he’s a very good person,” instead of immediately discussing the possibility. 

The president then said that the two had not discussed the possibility of Vance running for president. Vance agreed, saying, “No, sir. I said that too.”

“Who would believe that?” Trump said. “I don’t talk about it with him. He doesn’t talk about it (with me). It’s early.” Trump added that “we have to get through the midterms. We’ll see how it goes.” 

However, just a day before Trump’s deflection, Vance on Monday, October 19, discussed the possibility of securing Trump’s endorsement in an interview with Mark Halperin on 2Way Tonight. Although he said he had not decided whether to run, the vice president expressed confidence that Trump would support him if he entered the race.

“I think I would get his endorsement, but I also think there’s something to be said for people actually running their own race,” Vance said.

The Vice President suggested that Trump might choose to delay an endorsement to allow the Republican primary process to unfold without influencing the outcome.

“Because the president’s endorsement is so dispositive, you could absolutely see a scenario where the president says, ‘You know what? We need to let like this race play out and not preemptively prejudge the results,’” Vance said.

When Halperin asked whether Trump would endorse him immediately after an announcement, Vance replied, “I would think so, but I don't know, man. I haven't talked to him about it.”

Vance also acknowledged that the demands of a presidential campaign could affect the president’s assessment of him. Discussing the scrutiny and pressure involved, he said, “I might be terrible at it … so I don't know.”

Vance maintains midterms are his priority, declines to back Netanyahu

Vance has repeatedly said he is focused on the midterm elections rather than the next presidential contest. In his interview with Halperin, he said he had not made up his mind about 2028 and had not devoted much attention to the question.

Vance also on the same day declined to endorse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite Trump’s public support for Netanyahu’s reelection campaign.

“I’m not getting involved in the Israeli elections,” Vance said during the interview. “I’m not anti-endorsing him; I’m not pro-endorsing him.”

However, Trump had declared his “complete and total endorsement of Bibi Netanyahu” in a post on Truth Social last weekend, praising the Israeli leader as “Strong, Brave, and Brilliant” and arguing that Israel needed him in office.