Sen. John Kennedy Considers Presidential Run in 2028

Senator John Kennedy stated he would consider entering the 2028 presidential race if he finds the Republican nominee options unsatisfactory. "On my side of the aisle, if a bunch of goobers run, and I think they’re goobers, and one of the goobers might win, and I think I could do a better job, I would consider running," Kennedy said during an appearance on NBC’s "Meet the Press" on Sunday. The Louisiana Republican emphasized that his current focus is on his Senate race in 2028, but he would contemplate a presidential bid if he believes he cannot be effective in the Senate anymore. Kennedy, who is not up for reelection this year, has made several appearances in other states to support fellow Republican candidates, including trips to Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska in September, and New Hampshire in June. He remarked on his unexpected involvement in these states, saying, "If you told me six months ago I was going to be having to spend my time in those three states, I wouldn’t have believed you. Those ought to be fat guy layups for us," as reported by The Washington Post. Kennedy, known for his folksy remarks, has diverged from former President Donald Trump on various issues, including Trump's claim that Ukraine initiated the war with Russia. He also criticized the Trump administration's deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, calling it a "screw up." Recently, Kennedy expressed disapproval of Trump for sharing Senator Tom Cotton’s cellphone number on Truth Social, stating, "He can be tempestuous. He can go from zero to a-hole in about three seconds. I don’t think he should have given out Tom’s cell phone number. I don’t think that’s going to help convince Tom." Kennedy is currently serving his second term in the Senate and has not previously run for president. Recent polling from YouGov indicates that Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are among the leading candidates Republicans would consider for the 2028 election.