Vance Emerges as Trump's 2028 Heir Apparent
Vance Emerges as Trump's 2028 Heir Apparent
The News
Vice President JD Vance left the Republican midterm convention in Dallas looking like President Trump's heir apparent for 2028, after a keynote address that drew chants of "JD 28" from the floor.
A Politico Playbook report cited unnamed sources saying "the president has scaled back his Vance vs. Marco Rubio polling, and is privately changing his tone when talking about Vance in recent months, saying he'll be the nominee."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, long the other name in that conversation, skipped the convention and has told NBC News he is "not a candidate for anything right now."
Timeline
Trump opens the Republican midterm convention in Dallas with a two-hour headline speech. Per Political Wire, citing the Washington Post, Trump praised Vance from the stage the evening before Vance's keynote — the latest sign the president is quietly nodding at him as the party's heir-apparent.
Politico reports Trump has scaled back his Vance-vs-Rubio polling and now privately says Vance will be the nominee. A separate Politico item notes delegates chanting "48" at a breakfast meeting, backing Vance to become the 48th president.
Vance delivers the closing keynote. A protester waving a Mexican flag heckles him mid-speech; Vance shoots back, "Well, my friend, if you love Mexico so much, get your ass over there," as security removes the man. Trump follows with a 25-minute closer — short by his standards, the New York Post noted.
Rubio recently told a Colombian media outlet, per NBC News: "I don't know what the future holds, but I have no plans at this time." He added that he is "100 percent focused on my job, and I have to be, because I have two jobs" — secretary of state and Trump's interim national security adviser. A source NBC did not name said Rubio is privately telling people he has ruled out a 2028 campaign, but is "keeping his options open for the future."
What Rubio Is Saying
Reactions
Vance did not take the bait on stage. "Let's take care of business this November, then we'll worry about what comes next," he told the chanting crowd, according to the New York Post — unable to conceal a smile.
Convention-goers who spoke to the Post were blunter. "He didn't look like some guy who you're thinking maybe they're grooming [for the presidency]. He looked tonight like he had become the guy," Texas resident Frank McCaffrey said. "After the midterms, they're gonna have to pass the torch to him, and he's ready for it."
"That was the best and smoothest speech I've ever heard him do," said Jim Danner, another Texas attendee. Illinois National Committeewoman Rhonda Bellfort said Vance "knocked it out of the ballpark," adding: "He's been auditioning since day one."
A Vance ally told Politico: "I think every time he speaks publicly, it's a reminder that he's really good at this stuff." A person close to the White House told the outlet: "It is pretty clear that if he runs for president in '28, he will be the nominee."
The San Francisco Chronicle read the same speech differently, describing a Vance who "careened from Scripture-quoting father of a newborn to nativist culture warrior who mocked a protester" — and who is "eyeing 2028, setting up a potential collision with Newsom."
What's Next
Vance has said he won't decide on a presidential run until after the November midterms, and Trump has said publicly it is too early to name an heir — even as he has surveyed people on whether Vance or Rubio would be better.
The midterm campaign is the immediate test. A person close to the White House told Politico that Vance "has proven to be one of the most prolific fundraisers the GOP has," and that his focus on the midterms is smart politics.
More
Vance also used the speech to court conservatives split by the war in Iran, urging them not to hand "the country over to a bunch of crazy people because you happen to disagree with us on a policy issue." Trump addressed the same fissure by stressing the risk of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon: "I'm right then — I win."
Poll
Should Republicans settle on a 2028 nominee before the midterms?
Colleges Condemn Students Mocking Kirk Assassination Anniversary
Charleston White Arrested Again on Florida Battery Charge
Sep 13, 2026
Border Patrol Rescues MS NOW Crew in Desert
Sep 13, 2026
Supreme Court Restores Missouri's Old House Map
Sep 13, 2026
Alaska Drops Felony Voter Charges Against Samoans
Sep 13, 2026
Trespasser Breaches Harris' Malibu Estate; No Arrest
Sep 12, 2026
Hegseth Pressed Downed Airmen Into 60 Minutes
Sep 12, 2026
Houthis Seize Mokha, Choking Saudi Oil Exports
Sep 12, 2026
Altman Rules Out OpenAI IPO This Year
Sep 12, 2026
Jury Acquits Lil Durk in Murder-for-Hire Case
Sep 12, 2026
Judge: Trump Broke Law Halving FEMA Staff
Sep 12, 2026
Maher Calls Democrats' Gaza Genocide Claim a Lie
Sep 12, 2026
Blizzard Revives StarCraft, Sends Diablo to Netflix
Sep 12, 2026
Trump's Queens Childhood Home Sells for $1.93M
Sep 12, 2026
Scientists Find New Virus in Tick Invading US
Sep 12, 2026
Britain Bans Settlement Imports; US States Threaten Payback
Sep 12, 2026
Prison Fire Kills 7 as Kurds Protest Killing
Sep 12, 2026
Kosovo Rallies for Ex-President Before Hague Verdict
Sep 12, 2026
Cruz Booed at GameDay Over College Sports Bill
Sep 12, 2026
Blast Hits Bulgarian Arms Plant Supplying Ukraine
Sep 12, 2026
Sep 13, 2026