Trump Denies Privately Telling Donors He’s Endorsing JD Vance: ‘Way Too Early’

President Donald Trump downplayed reports Thursday that he’s privately steering donors toward supporting Vice President JD Vance in 2028, telling reporters it’s “way too early” to discuss the party’s next presidential nominee.

Earlier on Thursday morning, The Washington Post reported, citing two people familiar with the meeting, that Trump had told financial backers in the Oval Office, “At the end of the day, we need to elect JD.” And in July, MS NOW revealed that the president reportedly has become more amenable to the idea of Vance succeeding him because of his recent weight loss.

On Thursday in the Oval Office, a reporter asked Trump if the Post’s story serves as his “official endorsement” for Vance.

“No,” the president responded. “No. It’s, uh — I heard about it a little while ago. I think he’s great, but we’re way too early to even be thinking about that. Okay?”

Also in the Post’s report, though, was the note that “six other Trumpworld advisers and allies, however, cautioned that they aren’t convinced the president has settled on Vance, noting that Trump tells different things to different people and could still change his mind.”

In June, he pitched a potential partnership between Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, telling New York Post columnist Miranda Devine, “They’re both very talented. They’re both great. Well, I like them both, and I like them together. You know, it would be great. I don’t know how you beat them if they’re together. That would be a great team. JD and Marco would be a great team.”

Yet, Trump has also been sure not to count himself out, frequently joking about unconstitutionally running for a third term.

“I’m going to do it again,” he boasted to the audience during last month’s make-up White House Correspondents’ Dinner. “It should be easy. I’m getting very good at running for president.”

Watch the clip above via YouTube.

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