JD Vance Dodges 2028 Questions, Criticizes Ted Cruz's Campaign
The Vice President deflected inquiries about his presidential aspirations while asserting that Senator Ted Cruz is openly pursuing a 2028 bid.
Vice President JD Vance declined to address his potential 2028 presidential ambitions on Thursday, instead stating that it is "obvious" that Senator Ted Cruz is already campaigning for the White House. Vance, when asked by reporters if the upcoming midterm elections would influence his decision to run for president, responded that "Regardless of what happens over the next 35 days, there will be new information, new things you have to make a decision over."
Vance, who has not officially announced a presidential bid, has largely remained noncommittal on the matter. "The American people make that decision," he told NBC News.
He then turned his attention to Cruz, a former Senate colleague from Texas. "It is really obvious to me that, at this very moment, Ted Cruz is running for president," Vance said. "At this moment, I’m not. I’m trying to help elect Republicans. That’s what I’m going to keep on doing."
Cruz, in August, stated that discussions about the 2028 Republican presidential nominee were still open and that he intended to be part of that conversation. "Oh, no. There’s going to be a full discussion about who we are and what we believe," Cruz said. "I’ll certainly be part of the discussion."
Reports indicate that Cruz is planning a presidential bid. He has previously clashed with podcast host Tucker Carlson, particularly over his strong support for Israel, a stance that Vance has also echoed. Cruz and Vance served together in the Senate before Vance was selected as the Republican vice-presidential nominee.
In the 2016 presidential primaries, Cruz was Trump's most significant challenger, ultimately withdrawing after Trump secured 45 percent of the Republican vote compared to Cruz's 25 percent. Although Cruz's current Senate term runs through 2030, he has been actively campaigning in early primary states like Iowa and South Carolina to support Republican fundraising efforts for the current election cycle.
According to the prediction market Kalshi, Vance currently has a 45 percent chance of becoming the Republican nominee in 2028, while Cruz has a 2 percent chance.