Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Oct 18: US Vice President JD Vance has indicated that he may not run for president in 2028, citing family considerations and his wife Usha Vance’s reservations about politics, even as he remains widely viewed as a leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination.
Speaking at a CBS News town hall in Flat Rock, Michigan, Vance said he had not decided whether to seek the White House after President Donald Trump’s second term and would consider his political future only after the November midterm elections.
Asked directly whether there was a possibility that he might not run for president in 2028, Vance replied, “Of course there's a chance.”
He pointed to the demands of raising four young children and his wife’s preferences, noting that Usha, whose parents immigrated to the United States from South India, had never been particularly fond of politics.
“Yeah, man, we've got four little kids. My wife has never loved politics. She loves public service,” Vance said.
The remarks offered a rare public acknowledgement of the personal considerations that could influence one of the most consequential decisions in Republican politics.
Vance was elected to the US Senate from Ohio in 2022 before becoming Trump’s running mate in 2024. He has since emerged as a prominent figure in the Republican Party, with considerable attention focused on his political future as Trump cannot seek another consecutive presidential term under the constitutional two-term limit.
However, Vance resisted suggestions that his current position made a presidential campaign inevitable, saying people frequently asked about his plans and appeared to assume he would automatically enter the race.
“The way that I think about life, big life decisions, my wife will tell you this, is I'm a procrastinator. I hate thinking about it,” he said.
Vance made it clear that his immediate political priority was helping Republicans retain control of Congress in the November midterm elections. He said he would turn his attention to the presidential question after the polls rather than allow speculation about 2028 to distract him from the current campaign.
“But, you know, anything could happen, man. Anyway,” he said.
CBS News moderator Tony Dokoupil pressed Vance on whether he and his wife had already begun discussing their future, suggesting that such a major decision would naturally feature in family conversations.
Vance rejected the suggestion, reiterating that they had not seriously discussed the matter.
“Real, we're really not, though. We're really not. It's, it's what, whenever it comes up, it's always, let's figure it out after the midterms,” he said.
The exchange took place during a wide-ranging discussion covering the economy, immigration, the Iran war, technology and the political challenges confronting the Trump administration.
Vance repeatedly returned to the approaching midterm elections and urged Michigan voters to support Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers.
The contest between Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is among the closely watched races that could help determine which party controls the US Senate.
Vance praised Rogers as a candidate of character and argued that personal integrity was essential for effective public service.
His comments also drew attention to Usha Vance, the daughter of Indian immigrants, who has become a prominent figure in American public life since her husband’s election as vice president. Her Indian roots have generated considerable interest in India and among Indian-Americans.
Vance rose to national prominence through his memoir Hillbilly Elegy before entering electoral politics. His rapid transition from first-term senator to vice president has placed him at the centre of discussions about the Republican Party’s future leadership, although he has not announced a presidential campaign.