Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has made a big prediction about who he believes will be the Republican Party’s presidential nominee in 2028.
During a podcast appearance, Carlson spoke about President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office as well as what the future might hold for the party. Carlson said that he believes Vice President JD Vance will be the GOP’s presidential nominee in 2028.
While President Trump declined to endorse Vance for the 2028 nomination during a February Fox News interview—stating that there are “a lot of very capable people” in the GOP who could run—Carlson suggested that the statement does not necessarily mean Trump won’t ultimately support his vice president in the race.
“I think people want to leave a legacy, all of us do, and great men especially do. And the only person in the entire Republican Party from my position who’s capable of carrying on the Trump legacy and expanding it, making it what it should fully be, is JD Vance,” Carlson, whose son Buckley is serving as Vance’s deputy press secretary, said.
“I think his loyalty is without question and his service to Trump has been profound. So I’m assuming that was just like a phrase that you feel you have to use,” Carlson continued.
Host Vince Coglianese suggested that Trump may have withheld an endorsement of Vance to protect him, a point with which Carlson agreed. Coglianese also speculated that Trump wanted to keep attention on his current administration rather than the 2028 race, as he still has “a lot of work to do.”
“That’s exactly right and there’s a lot that will happen between now and then … there’s no one else [to carry on Trump’s legacy],” Carlson added. “And I think, already, I mean, it’s a tough gig for any vice president, this one included … But he has been a powerful partner for Trump. I don’t see any other, at this point, as of today, any other conceivable option. I think JD Vance will be the nominee.”
Mediaite reported on March 7 that Donald Trump Jr. was considering a 2028 presidential run, but he strongly denied the claim, emphasizing his focus on supporting JD Vance’s successful bid to become the 2024 GOP vice presidential nominee.
“I accurately predicted that my buddy JD would be an instant power player in national GOP politics, so your theory is that I worked my ass off to help get him the VP nomination because I want to run for president in 2028?” he wrote in a statement to the outlet. “Are you f**king retarded? I’m actually glad you’re printing this bulls**t though because at least now the rest of the press corps will see how shi**y your ‘sources’ are and how easily you’re played by them. Congrats, moron.”
Political analyst Mark Halperin stated following Trump’s and Vance’s November election victory that the vice president’s ability and willingness to engage in interviews across various platforms gives him a significant advantage over other potential 2028 presidential contenders from both parties.
“Unlike [former Vice President] Kamala Harris, I don’t think there’s a show in America JD Vance would turn down by saying, ‘You know, I can’t do it,’ or, ‘I’m worried about the reception I’d get.’ That’s a huge advantage for him,” said Halperin.
“And if you look at the other people who are talked about as potential presidential candidates in both parties, [Democratic Pennsylvania] Governor Shapiro has been going on Fox News. He’s pretty confident about going places. The others, less so, and their performance level is just not that great,” he added.
Last week, Vance offered strong support for Trump’s trade policies, arguing that it will have a positive impact on the United States long term.
While delivering remarks at the American Dynamism Summit, the vice president excoriated the entire premise behind globalism and eliminating manufacturing jobs in America.
“President Trump is starting with and is dead serious about rearranging our trade and tariff regime internationally. It must happen,” he said. “We believe that tariffs are a necessary tool to protect our jobs and our industries from other countries, as well as the labor value of our workers in a globalized market.
“In fact, combined with the right technology, they allow us to bring jobs back to the United States of America and create the jobs of the future,” Vance added.
