President Donald Trump addressed reports on Thursday regarding his private discussions with donors about Vice President JD Vance's potential candidacy for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination. Trump denied that he had formally endorsed Vance, saying it is “way too early” to make an official endorsement.
Earlier reports indicated that during an Oval Office meeting with GOP benefactors roughly two weeks ago, Trump expressed the view that it was important to “elect JD,” signaling his private support for Vance as a future party leader. These remarks were corroborated by multiple sources familiar with the discussions, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the private nature of the conversation.
Despite the apparent private backing, Trump has publicly maintained a more ambiguous position regarding his preferred successor. Over the past year, he has encouraged competition between Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and suggested they could form a strong presidential ticket together. Trump has repeatedly refrained from explicitly naming a preferred candidate to lead the Republican ticket in 2028.
In addition to the Oval Office meeting, Trump has sought input from his advisers and staff on the relative strengths of Vance and Rubio, including questioning aides during a Marine One flight late last month. One White House official confirmed that Trump remains engaged in evaluating both potential candidates.
A presidential adviser with direct knowledge of Trump’s remarks said that although Trump privately views Vance as the likely Republican heir, the timing of any official announcement remains undecided. According to this adviser, the president wants to carefully calibrate when to signal his full support publicly.
The situation highlights ongoing deliberations within the Republican Party as it prepares for the 2028 presidential election cycle. While Trump’s private comments suggest early backing of Vance, the absence of a formal endorsement leaves the nomination contest open, with other figures, including Rubio, continuing to be considered potential contenders.