Shannon, Ireland, September 14, 2026, BNN Web Staff: US President Donald Trump has declined to endorse Vice President JD Vance for the 2028 presidential race, saying it is still “too early” to decide who should succeed him.
Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Shannon, Ireland, before boarding Air Force One.
Asked whether he was prepared to back Vance for the 2028 presidential election, Trump said Vance was “terrific” but added that the Republican Party had several strong potential contenders.
“It’s too early. I mean, it’s too early. I think he’s terrific. We’ve got so many terrific people. We have, as they call it, a very deep bench,” Trump said.
When asked who could emerge as a stronger contender against Vance, Trump again praised the vice president while keeping his options open.
“You know, I just think they’re all very good, and JD’s fantastic, and he did a very good job,” he said.
Trump’s latest comments come amid growing speculation within the Republican Party over the 2028 presidential contest. A Washington Post report in August said Trump had spoken more favourably about Vance’s possible candidacy during a private meeting with donors at the Oval Office.
According to the report, Trump told those attending the meeting, “At the end of the day, we need to elect JD.” However, advisers indicated that the president had not made a final decision on a potential successor and was still considering Vance alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Trump has reportedly compared the political prospects of Vance and Rubio in private discussions, including during a Marine One flight.
Although a senior adviser said in August that Trump had privately concluded Vance would inherit the MAGA movement, Republican insiders have cautioned against treating that as a final endorsement. They have also pointed to the importance of the upcoming congressional midterm elections in shaping the party’s political direction.
The speculation has already prompted different groups of Republican donors and activists to begin aligning themselves with potential contenders.
Vance, meanwhile, has indicated that he does not intend to make an immediate decision on a presidential bid and is expected to address the question after the November midterm elections.
Rubio has similarly refrained from publicly discussing his 2028 ambitions. His supporters, however, maintain that Trump continues to view both Vance and Rubio favourably, keeping open the possibility of a future political partnership as the Republican succession debate develops.
