Trump says he hasn't talked to Vance about a 2028 endorsement

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance speaking with reporters in the Oval Office.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he's never discussed with JD Vance endorsing his vice president for a 2028 White House run.

Trump was in the Oval Office speaking with reporters after introducing a new $25 million whistleblower program to encourage members of the public to report fraud to the federal government. Vance was standing directly behind Trump when a reporter asked, "Since we have the vice president here, the vice president said in an interview yesterday that he thought you would endorse him if he does decide to run in 2028. Since we're here, could you tell us -- "

The president then interjected, saying, "Well, I tell you this, he's a very talented person. A very good person." But he stopped short of offering Vance an endorsement.  

"But we've literally -- I don't think we've ever talked about it," Trump added.

"I said that too," Vance chimed in from behind. 

"Who would believe that," Trump said, suggesting that revelation might come as a surprise to people. "It's early, very early right now. We have to get through the midterms," Trump continued before pivoting to the flurry of rallies he's attended in recent days around the country as well as the rallies he plans to attend over the next two weeks. 

Over the weekend, Vance suggested it wasn't even a foregone conclusion that he will run for president in 2028 despite being the clear frontrunner, according to early polling. At a town hall event he said, "Of course there's a chance" he might not make a White House run. “We’ve got four little kids, my wife has never loved politics. She loves public service,” Vance said at the town hall. “The way that I think about life, big life decisions -- my wife will tell you this: I’m a procrastinator. I hate thinking about it,” Vance said.

Vance also broke with President Trump this week when he declined to endorse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is up for re-election on October 27. 

"I endorse American candidates and that’s where I’m focused on, is the midterms, so I’m not getting involved in Israeli elections,” he responded after being asked in an interview about whether he planned to endorse Netanyahu. “I’m not anti-endorsing him, I’m not pro-endorsing him, I’m not getting involved in Israeli politics,” he added. 

Below, watch the clip of Trump answering whether he has plans to endorse Vance in 2028.