Trump Says He Hasn't Talked to Vance About a 2028 Endorsement

President Donald Trump would not say Tuesday whether he will endorse Vice President JD Vance for president in 2028, telling reporters in the Oval Office that the two men have not discussed it.

"He's a very talented person and he's a very good person, but we've literally — I don't think we've ever talked about it," Trump said, according to the Washington Examiner. "You know, who would believe that?" he added, with Vance standing behind him, according to the Associated Press.

Trump said it was too soon to look past the November elections. "It's early, very early right now. We have to get through the midterms. We'll see how it goes," he said, according to the AP.

What Vance Said

The question followed an interview Vance gave journalist Mark Halperin on his platform 2Way, which aired Monday. Vance said the midterms are his top priority and that he has not decided whether to run in 2028.

"I think if I run, the president will endorse me," Vance said, according to Fox News. "I would think so, but I don't know, man. I haven't talked to him about it."

Vance also said Trump might choose to stay out of a primary. "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, like, preemptively prejudge the results,'" he said, according to Fox News.

He told Halperin he did not think it would be "weird" for Trump to hold off on an endorsement.

Why Trump's Endorsement Matters

Vance has said before that "whoever the president endorses for the Republican nomination will ultimately win the Republican primary," Fox News reported. In the Halperin interview, he argued that Trump's backing carries unusual weight with Republican voters.

"I think that Trump's endorsement just carries more weight than any political endorsement in history," Vance said. "Obviously, the voters are gonna decide. Donald Trump is only one vote of many, but I think his endorsement is still the most powerful."

The Rubio Factor

Trump has floated Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio together before. At a Rose Garden event in May, he called the pair a "dream team" but did not say who would lead the ticket, according to Fox News.

Vance has praised Rubio publicly. "I love Marco. I think he's a great secretary of state. He's become a very, very dear friend," Vance said, according to Fox News, adding that both men are focused on "accomplishing the American people's business right now."

The midterm elections are two weeks away.

Hold Everyone Accountable.

Sources: Washington Examiner, "Trump says he hasn't spoken to Vance about a 2028 endorsement" (Oct. 20, 2026): https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/4772981/trump-says-he-hasnt-spoken-to-vance-about-a-2028-endorsement/ ; The Hill, "Trump deflects on potential Vance endorsement" (Oct. 20, 2026): https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6161025-trump-vance-2028-endorsement/ ; Fox News, "Vance reveals the Trump dilemma that could complicate his 2028 White House ambitions" (Oct. 20, 2026): https://www.foxnews.com/politics/vance-reveals-trump-dilemma-complicate-2028-white-house-ambitions