Vice President JD Vance said he could skip the 2028 presidential race, leaving the Republican succession contest unsettled because President Donald Trump cannot be elected to a third term.
Asked at a CBS News town hall whether he might decline to run, Vance replied, “Of course there's a chance.” He said he had made no decision. The town hall was scheduled for Oct. 15 in Flat Rock, Michigan, and aired Oct. 17.
Vance described a tendency to put off major decisions. He said his wife, second lady Usha Vance, enjoys public service despite disliking politics. The couple have four children, he said.
Under the Constitution's 22nd Amendment, Trump's election victories in 2016 and 2024 mean he cannot be elected president again. Trump said in August 2025 that Vance would probably be favored to succeed him at that point. He also mentioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio and said it was too early to settle the question.
In June, Vance told CBS News that he and Usha planned to discuss his political future after the midterm results. The federal general election is scheduled for Nov. 3.
