JD Vance and Donald Trump are a strong team. But now their bond is about to be tested.
And Vance is set to ask Trump for one massive request that could have serious consequences.
JD Vance Hints at 2028 Presidential Run, Eyes Trump’s Blessing
Vice President JD Vance dropped a tantalizing hint about his political future on Thursday, suggesting he might throw his hat in the ring for the presidency in 2028—provided he excels in his current role and gets the green light from President Donald Trump. Speaking on Fox & Friends, Vance kept his focus on the present while leaving the door ajar for bigger ambitions.
“When we get to that point, I’ll talk to the president, we’ll figure out what we want to do. But the way that I think about it is, if we do a good job, the politics take care of themselves,” Vance said. “There’s so much to do, and I don’t really think that much about what happens in three and a half years.”
Insiders close to the vice president told the New York Post that they see him as a prime contender for the Republican nomination when the time comes. However, they emphasized that his path forward depends heavily on his success as the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) finance chair during the 2026 midterms. Equally critical, they noted, is staying in Trump’s good graces – a tightrope walk given the president’s influence.
Trump has stirred the pot by teasing the idea of a third term, despite constitutional hurdles. In an NBC News interview on Sunday, he outlined a curious workaround: Vance could run for president, win, and then step aside to let Trump reclaim the top spot while sliding back into the vice presidency. “I’m not joking,” Trump insisted, though he quickly added, “it is far too early to think about it.”
The Constitution’s 22nd Amendment, enacted in 1951 after Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s unprecedented four terms, declares: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
Some Trump allies see wiggle room here, arguing it doesn’t explicitly bar a third term if not consecutive. Yet the 12th Amendment complicates matters, stating that “no person constitutionally ineligible” for the presidency can serve as vice president, potentially snarling Trump’s hypothetical return.
Another wild-card scenario involves Trump angling for the House Speaker role, followed by orchestrated resignations of both the president and vice president. But House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has dismissed any talk of amending the Constitution to ease Trump’s path.
“There’s a constitutional path. You have to amend the Constitution to do it, and that’s a high bar,” Johnson said to reporters on Tuesday. “The president and I have talked about this, joked about it. He’s joked about it with me on stage before. You know, we take him at his word.”
Amending the Constitution, after all, demands a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate, plus approval from three-fourths of state legislatures—a steep climb even for a figure like Trump.
JD Vance: A Rising Star in the GOP Firmament
JD Vance’s ascent within the Republican Party has been nothing short of meteoric. Once a bestselling author with Hillbilly Elegy, he parlayed his Rust Belt roots and sharp intellect into a successful 2022 Senate run in Ohio.
His plainspoken style and focus on working-class concerns struck a chord, aligning him with the populist wave Trump has ridden since 2016. Now, as vice president, Vance stands at the nexus of the GOP’s old guard and its insurgent future.
His role as RNC finance chair offers a proving ground. If he can steer the party to midterm victories in 2026, he’ll solidify his reputation as a strategist and fundraiser—key credentials for a presidential bid.
Vance’s youth and energy contrast with an aging GOP establishment, positioning him as a fresh face who can carry Trump’s legacy while appealing to a new generation of conservatives.
Yet his rise isn’t without risks. Tied closely to Trump, Vance must navigate the president’s towering shadow. Loyalty has been his ticket so far, but any misstep could see him sidelined. Still, his knack for connecting with voters, coupled with a disciplined approach to governance, has party insiders buzzing.
Whether he runs in 2028 or beyond, JD Vance is fast becoming a name the Republican Party—and the nation—can’t ignore.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.
