Trump Turns Heads Over Unexpected Answer To If JD Vance Will Be His Successor in 2028

January 9, 2026 by Nadia

The interview clip aired Monday afternoon, just as Vice President Vance, 40, arrived in France with his family for his first international trip in office.

Vance Takes on Foreign Policy

Vance is in Europe for a key diplomatic mission, beginning with an artificial intelligence summit in Paris before heading to the Munich Security Conference in Germany later this week. His role in foreign policy will likely shape his future political trajectory, particularly if he does have his sights set on a presidential bid down the line.

Trump’s reluctance to immediately endorse Vance may be a strategic move. Publicly anointing a successor now could shift attention away from his own presidency, while also highlighting the reality that, per the Constitution, he cannot serve beyond January 2029.