Nikki Haley Raises Eyebrows With Statement About 2028
“I think it’s too soon to tell,” Haley began. “I think primaries are healthy. I think a year is a lifetime in politics. I think we’ll be having a different conversation a year from now. Who’s gonna be in that? I have no idea,” she said.
Then Bash posed the question: “Will you?” Advertisement Haley responded without hesitation: “I will not.” Advertisement WATCH:
HALEY ON 2028: "I think we'll be having a different conversation a year from now. Who's gonna be in that? I have no idea."
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) April 12, 2026
BASH: "Will you?"
HALEY: "I will not." pic.twitter.com/YzZAn4M0EP
In February, Trump began informally discussing with advisers who should lead the Republican Party in the 2028 presidential election, according to multiple people familiar with the conversations, Axios claimed.
Then Bash posed the question: “Will you?” Advertisement Haley responded without hesitation: “I will not.” Advertisement WATCH
Vance, whom Trump selected as his running mate, remains the president’s favored choice, according to the sources. He also has a political infrastructure in place that could form the basis of a 2028 campaign. Rubio, by contrast, has not made similar preparations and has indicated he would support Vance if the vice president runs.
“But Trump has notably and increasingly praised Rubio, in public and private, for his rising profile as secretary of state and national security adviser,” said Axios.
Several advisers cautioned against interpreting Trump’s questions as diminishing his support for Vance.
Trump has been posing a recurring question to confidants: whether Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be the better standard-bearer for the GOP after his presidency, the outlet said
“Vance-Rubio is the president’s dream ticket” for 2028 — “and to be clear, that’s Vance on top,” one Trump adviser told the outlet. “But would Trump be happy with a Rubio-Vance ticket? Absolutely.” Advertisement Trump’s comments come as Republican officials prepare for the 2026 midterm elections, and at a time when speculation about the party’s leadership after Trump is growing. Vance is expected to play a prominent role in the midterms as finance chair of the Republican National Committee.
Rubio’s current Cabinet roles have kept him in the national spotlight, which aides say could boost his profile relative to Vance, who draws less media attention despite his position as vice president.
But Rubio has publicly touted Vance. “If JD Vance runs for president, he’s going to be our nominee, and I’ll be one of the first people to support him,” Rubio told Vanity Fair last year. One source said that Rubio has conveyed to Vance his thoughts on the matter – that is, his continued support for a Vance presidency. Both are good friends from their time together in the Senate and remain so, Axios reported.
In private discussions, Trump has contrasted the two men’s styles, describing Rubio as more diplomatic and Vance as more combative
Then in March, Trump asked a group of donors at his Mar-a-Lago estate for their thoughts about Vance and Rubio, the Wall Street Journal reported. The applause for Rubio was reportedly louder than the reaction for Vance, the outlet claimed.
