Exclusive: Republicans worry that Trump’s successor can’t come from his White House
Semafor · Shelby Talcott ·
After a rough midterm, the party is wondering if there’s still a lane for a 2028 candidate who is closely tied to the president.
The News
Republicans’ stunning midterm defeat is forcing them to confront a question that will shape their 2028 primary: Can their next standard-bearer come from inside the Trump administration?
Vice President JD Vance remains the most prominent potential successor to President Donald Trump, but his blunt X post pinning the party’s Tuesday collapse on the Iran war showed he’s aware that it’s a political liability for all Republicans heading into 2028. And concerns about Vance’s viability are brewing in some corners of the GOP.