Conservative firebrand Tucker Carlson has thrown his full support behind Vice President J.D. Vance as the next Republican presidential nominee in 2028.
During a recent podcast appearance, the former Fox News host — whose son works in Vance’s press office — confidently declared that Vance is uniquely positioned to carry the MAGA movement forward after Donald Trump’s presidency. Carlson praised Vance as the only figure capable of truly expanding and preserving Trump’s political legacy.
“Everyone wants to leave a legacy — and great leaders especially. From where I stand, the only person in the Republican Party who can build on Trump’s achievements and fulfill the movement’s full potential is J.D. Vance,” Carlson stated emphatically.
Carlson underscored Vance’s deep loyalty to Trump, calling it “unquestionable,” and commended the vice president’s “profound” dedication to the administration. He emphasized that Vance’s unwavering service makes him the obvious choice to lead the MAGA vision into the next era.
This enthusiastic endorsement comes as the Trump-Vance administration wraps up its first 100 days in office, following their victory over Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
When podcast host Vince Coglianese pointed out that Carlson had previously appeared to distance himself from Vance — possibly to keep the media spotlight firmly on Trump’s early days in office — Carlson readily agreed. “That’s exactly right,” he said, while reaffirming his prediction: “At this moment, I don’t see any other serious contender. J.D. Vance will be the nominee.”
According to Trending Politics, Carlson’s bold prediction stands in contrast to Trump’s more reserved remarks from February, when the President declined to endorse anyone for 2028, saying only that many capable individuals would likely compete.
Meanwhile, speculation about the 2028 GOP field is heating up. A report from Mediaite suggested that Donald Trump Jr. might be eyeing a run — a claim he angrily dismissed, insisting his efforts to support Vance’s vice-presidential nomination were genuine, not a political setup for his own ambitions.
“I busted my ass to help JD get the VP slot because I wanted to run in 2028? That’s absurd,” Trump Jr. said in a scathing rebuttal, blasting the rumors as baseless.
Political strategist Mark Halperin also weighed in, highlighting Vance’s willingness to engage with media outlets across the political spectrum — a rare and powerful advantage. Halperin compared Vance’s approach favorably to other rising political figures, including Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, who has similarly shown confidence in appearing even on platforms like Fox News.
“Vance isn’t afraid to go anywhere or face tough audiences — and that’s a major edge,” Halperin noted. “Many other would-be candidates just don’t perform at the same level.”
As Carlson sees it, the future of the GOP will be determined by which candidate best embodies the spirit and energy of the MAGA movement — a movement he says now firmly controls the party’s direction.
Early polling suggests Carlson’s instincts may be right: hypothetical matchups show Vance dominating over other potential 2028 contenders like Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, and Ron DeSantis.