Over the past year, former President Donald Trump has indicated preferences for Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the 2028 Republican presidential nomination. He has also mentioned the possibility of a Vance-Rubio ticket and referred to other potential candidates. Recently, reports have emerged that Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and War Secretary Pete Hegseth may be considering a run in 2028. Cruz has stated he is contemplating it, while Hegseth has denied any such intentions.
In the Oval Office on Monday, Trump was asked about Hegseth's potential candidacy. He praised Hegseth but did not commit to supporting any candidate at this stage. "I think he’s doing a fantastic job," Trump said. "But it’s very early to talk about that. We have to get through the midterms first. I think he’s a very good guy, but I’ll bet there’s a lot of people considering it that you don’t know about. You probably have — you have a lot of people."
Trump did not provide further details on who these potential candidates might be. He suggested that the 2028 Republican race could involve more candidates than just Vance and Rubio.
Cruz recently expressed his desire to run for president, describing the ambition as a persistent drive. He acknowledged that he has a long-standing interest in the presidency. Trump has previously commented on Cruz's potential run, stating, "I think he might do that. He’s a talented guy."
Political observers recall that Cruz was a candidate for the GOP nomination in 2016, where he faced Trump and ultimately became a supporter of Trump in subsequent years.
Hegseth has denied a report from NBC News claiming he is considering a presidential run, calling it "100 percent false" and criticizing the use of anonymous sources. NBC's report suggested that Hegseth and his wife had discussed the possibility of a run, citing his appeal to the MAGA movement.
As Trump noted, it is early in the election cycle, but there is a recognition that the 2028 race is significant for shaping the future direction of the Republican Party. The potential for multiple candidates to enter the race remains open, although it is uncertain whether they can gain traction against established figures like Vance or Rubio.