Former President Donald Trump on Thursday dismissed reports that he had privately indicated that Sen. JD Vance should be the Republican presidential nominee in 2028, asserting that such considerations are "way too early."

The Washington Post reported earlier that Trump had informed GOP donors during a meeting approximately two weeks prior that "at the end of the day, we need to elect JD." Fox News subsequently confirmed the remark.

When questioned by a reporter if this statement constituted an official endorsement, Trump responded, "No."

"I heard about it a little while ago. I think he’s great, but we’re way too early to even be thinking about that," Trump told reporters.

Advisers and allies familiar with Trump's political circle cautioned that the former president often conveys different messages to different individuals and that they were not convinced he had definitively settled on Vance as his successor.

Vance himself had previously joked about Trump's decision-making process for 2028, comparing it to his experience as host of "The Apprentice." At a press conference in May, Vance sarcastically stated, "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. I just think that’s not at all what you would expect the president to do."

Trump has frequently mentioned both Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as potential successors. He has also floated the idea of Vance and Rubio running together on a ticket, referring to them as a "dream team," though he has not specified who would run for president.

While Rubio's prospects for 2028 have seen a recent increase, Vance continues to poll ahead of him in major surveys. Vance has stated that he is good friends with Rubio when asked about the possibility of competing for the Republican nomination.

In June, Vance told CBS News that he would discuss the potential of running for president with his wife after the midterm elections. He also expressed confidence that "the president of the United States is going to be very supportive" regardless of his decision.

![Senator JD Vance speaks at a campaign event, surrounded by supporters holding "Trump Vance" and "You're Fired!" signs.]( "Senator JD Vance speaks at a campaign event, surrounded by supporters holding "Trump Vance" and "You're Fired!" signs.")