U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly expressed his preference for Vice President J.D. Vance to become the Republican nominee for the 2028 presidential election.
According to The Washington Post, Trump made the comments during a private meeting with donors at the White House, reportedly telling them: “At the end of the day, we have to pick Jay,” referring to Vance.
Sources cited by U.S. media outlets say Trump has privately viewed Vance as his preferred successor within the Republican Party, although no official announcement has been made regarding Vance’s potential candidacy or Trump’s public endorsement.
However, some Trump advisers and allies have reportedly questioned whether the decision is final, noting that the president has a history of shifting positions and sending different messages to different audiences.
The reported remarks also contrast with Trump’s recent public statements, in which he encouraged competition between J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the 2028 Republican nomination.
