JD Vance Claims Ted Cruz Is Already Running For President

Sign up for the DC Insider newsletter if you want what is shaking Washington and rattling the White House. Vice President JD Vance sidestepped direct questions about his own political future but wasted no time throwing a sharp jab at Ted Cruz, his potential 2028 rival. Reporters grilled Vance, the 42-year-old father of four, on Thursday regarding the upcoming midterms and whether the GOP's results would change his mind about running for president.

Regardless of what happens in the next 35 days, there will be new information, new things you have to make a decision over, Vance told them. He has not officially announced a bid yet. Instead, he shrugged off the query with this simple line: The American people make that decision. Then he pivoted to bash his former Senate colleague from Texas. It is really obvious to me that, at this very moment, Ted Cruz is running for president, Vance said on NBC News. At this moment, I am not. I am trying to help elect Republicans. That is what I am going to keep on doing.

Cruz stated in August that he had not coalesced around Vance as the 2028 GOP candidate and that the conversation remains open. He added that there will be a full discussion about who we are and what we believe. I will certainly be part of the discussion, Cruz said. Reports suggest Cruz is planning a presidential bid, though prediction market Kalshi gives him just a two percent chance to become the nominee. Vance currently holds a 45 percent chance on that same market.

Cruz has accused Vance of being an acolyte of Tucker Carlson. The podcaster and former Fox News host have clashed and traded insults, especially over the Texan's strong support for Israel. Vance and Cruz served as Senate colleagues long before Vance was nominated to become Trump's running mate. Cruz was Trump's most formidable GOP challenger in the 2016 campaign and was the last to drop out after Trump received 45 percent of the Republican backing while Cruz received just 25 percent.

Cruz is not on the ballot this year since his term runs through 2030, but he has been campaigning in swing states like Iowa and South Carolina to fundraise for the GOP ahead of this year's elections. His presidential ambitions are seen as a long shot by many observers.