JD Vance was supposed to be the safe choice. The loyal one. The backup plan for life after Donald Trump. But as 2028 gets closer, Vance is starting to look like a liability the party cannot ignore.
Trump knows his time is limited. He has admitted more than once that a third term is not possible, even as his loudest fans beg him to ignore the Constitution. That reality has forced the MAGA movement to think about what comes next. And that is where things get messy.
Turning Point USA has clearly made its move. The group that helped power Trump’s rise is now lining up behind JD Vance. To them, he looks young, smart, and loyal enough to keep Trump’s world alive. On paper, it makes sense.
But politics is not paper.
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Recent polling shows how weak Vance’s position really is. Only about one in five Republicans say they want him as the next president. That is not momentum. That is a warning sign.
Supporters often say Vance is intelligent and disciplined. That may be true. But intelligence does not win crowds. Discipline does not fire up rallies. Trump built his power on energy, chaos, and fear. Vance does not have that. And many voters can feel it.
Trump himself has not helped. His praise of Vance has been soft and careful. He has called him “very capable” and “most likely,” but he has never fully embraced him. In the Trump world, that silence matters. If Trump truly believed in Vance, everyone would know.
Other Republicans are watching this closely. Some, like Marco Rubio, say they would step aside for Vance. Others stay quiet. That quiet says a lot. No one is rushing to fight for the top spot.
Even worse for Vance, a large share of Republican voters say they have no one in mind for 2028, exposing a party that spent years orbiting Donald Trump and now appears lost without a clear path ahead.
Some of Trump’s closest allies are not convinced either. Steve Bannon has openly questioned whether Vance is tough enough. In MAGA terms, that is a serious insult. Strength matters more than plans. Volume matters more than ideas.
This leaves Republicans in a strange place. Trump still dominates the party, but he cannot stay forever. Vance is being pushed forward, but the base does not seem inspired. Other big names fail to stand out. The bench looks thin.
For now, JD Vance wears the title of heir without the power that comes with it. He has the backing of organizations, not the love of voters. And that gap is dangerous.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
