JD Vance opens up on 2028 plans and knifes 'obvious' rival Ted Cruz who he says is clearly running

Sign up HERE to our DC Insider newsletter - your guide to what's rocking Washington, rattling the White House and setting tongues wagging on the Hill Published: 14:02 EDT, 2 October 2026 | Updated: 14:13 EDT, 2 October 2026 Vice President JD Vance was quick to dodge questions about his political future while eagerly dishing out an obvious jab at one of his potential 2028 GOP rivals. Reporters asked Vance, the 42-year-old father of four, Thursday about the upcoming midterms and whether the GOP's election result will shape his decision to launch a presidential bid. 'Regardless of what happens over the next 35 days, there will be new information, new things you have to make a decision over,' Vance responded. Vance, who has not announced an official bid, has remained opaque about his intentions, instead shrugging off the query with: 'The American people make that decision.'The VP then pivoted to bash his former Senate colleague Ted Cruz of Texas. 'It is really obvious to me that, at this very moment, Ted Cruz is running for president,' Vance told NBC News.'At this moment, I’m not. I’m trying to help elect Republicans. That’s what I’m going to keep on doing.'Cruz said in August that he has not coalesced around Vance as the 2028 GOP candidate and that the conversation is still open. Vice President JD Vance shot down questions about running for president in 2028 on Thursday while noting that its 'obvious' how Texas Senator Ted Cruz is 'running for president' Texas Senator Ted Cruz has said he will be part of the discussion about who will be the 2028 GOP presidential nominee Reports have indicated that Cruz is planning a presidential bid, though he has just a 2 percent chance of being the 2028 GOP nominee, according to the prediction market Kalshi 'Oh, no. There’s going to be a full discussion about who we are and what we believe,' Cruz said. 'I’ll certainly be part of the discussion.'The Texan accused Vance of being an acolyte of Tucker Carlson, the podcaster and former Fox News host, according to Axios. Cruz and Carlson have clashed and traded insults, particularly over the Texan's strong support of Israel.Vance and Cruz were Senate colleagues long before Vance's nomination to become Trump's running mate. Cruz was Trump's most formidable GOP challenger in the 2016 campaign, and he was the last to drop out after Trump received 45 percent of the Republican backing while the Texan received just 25 percent. While Cruz is not on the ballot this year – his term runs through 2030 – he has been campaigning in swing states, including Iowa and South Carolina, both early presidential primary states, to fundraise for the GOP ahead of this year's elections. The Texas senator's presidential ambitions are seen as a long shot. Vance currently has a 45 percent chance of becoming the GOP's 2028 presidential nominee, according to the prediction market Kalshi. Cruz, meanwhile, has just a two percent chance.