Vice President J.D. Vance disclosed that President Donald Trump frequently initiates private conversations about his potential 2028 presidential run, though Vance says he has not yet decided whether to seek the Republican nomination after Trump’s current term ends.

Trump Brings It Up Often, Vance Says

In a revealing interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Vance confirmed Trump regularly discusses the vice president’s political future both publicly and privately. “I never bring it up. But sure, the president brings it up a lot, sometimes publicly, sometimes privately,” Vance stated. He characterized Trump as a “political animal” who “loves this stuff” and remains “very fascinated” by electoral strategy and succession planning within the Republican Party.

The vice president described these conversations as exploratory rather than directive. Trump’s approach involves open-ended questions about what will happen next and how to ensure continued political success. “It’s not positive or negative. It’s just he kind of talks about it, like, ‘What’s gonna happen?’ How do we make sure that we’re successful? What does that mean for the future?'” Vance explained.

Decision Delayed Until After Midterms

Vance confirmed he plans to discuss his political future with Second Lady Usha Vance following the 2026 midterm elections. “Usha and I will absolutely sit down and talk about what comes next for our family,” he said, emphasizing his deliberate decision-making approach. He stated his preference to avoid premature commitments: “The way I make decisions is, I try not to make them until I absolutely must.”

Despite Trump’s frequent discussions about succession, Vance stressed both leaders remain focused on current responsibilities rather than detailed campaign planning. “We talk about it, but not in any great detail,” Vance noted. “Because, again, I think both of us are focused on the here-and-now.”

Protecting His Current Role

The vice president expressed concern that speculation about higher office could undermine his effectiveness in his current position. “I really don’t ever want my thought about a future job, whether it’s president or anything else, to make me a worse vice president,” Vance declared. “And the way to do that is to keep my attention on the job I have right now.” He also expressed confidence in Trump’s eventual support: “I have no doubt that the president of the United States is going to be very supportive of anything that I ultimately decide to do.”