At a closed breakfast with delegates and convention officials of the Republican National Convention in Dallas, Vice President JD Vance was greeted with chants of "48" — the number he would receive if he wins the 2028 presidential election. According to Politico, attendees of the meeting directly hinted at his potential future as the 48th President of the United States. Vance himself, addressing the gathering, emphasized that the 2026 elections present the country with a "tough choice" between sensible Republicans and "crazy people" from the left. "We need to nationalize these elections, we need to talk about all the crazy things the Democrats are doing," the Vice President stated, calling for voter mobilization ahead of the congressional midterm elections.
"Tough Choice" Rhetoric and Warnings Aimed at Democrats
In his speech, Vance focused on the contrast between the two political camps, cautiously adding that if Democrats regain control of Congress, they would "repeal all economic achievements and tax cuts" and "bury the American people in investigations." Such rhetoric, aimed at maximizing electoral anxiety, has become a key element of the Republican campaign for the 2026 midterm elections. The Vice President also specifically highlighted the party's achievements for working-class Americans, yet in the speech itself he sidestepped the idea of $5,000 dividends, previously proposed by Donald Trump.
Drug Prices and the "Most Popular Initiative"
Vance devoted separate attention in his speech to the Trump administration's policy on lowering prescription drug prices, calling the initiative "the most popular among voters." Later that same day, on Fox News, the Vice President returned to the topic of the $5,000 dividends, which he had not mentioned in his breakfast speech. Vance defended the proposal, noting that the payments could be limited depending on citizens' income levels, which in effect legitimized Trump's initiative before rank-and-file party members.
Convention Context: Trump's Speech and the MAGA Agenda
The Republican National Convention is being held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The day before, Donald Trump delivered a nearly two-hour speech to the delegates, devoted to border security and other key issues of the MAGA movement agenda. According to USA Today, the convention program also included a tribute to Charlie Kirk. At the convention, Vance avoided any direct comments about his plans for the 2028 race, limiting himself to general statements about the party's future.
The Succession Question: Rumors and Trump's Position
Rumors about JD Vance as a possible successor to Donald Trump in the 2028 election have been circulating in American political circles for a long time. Previously, the White House chief himself commented on these rumors for the first time, emphasizing that it is "too early" to discuss potential presidential candidates. Nevertheless, Trump continues to prepare the party for the congressional midterm elections, promising to pay $5,000 to every American in the event of a Republican victory. If the party retains control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, more than a trillion dollars will have to be spent on these payments to U.S. citizens — a figure that is already sparking debates within the party over the budgetary sustainability of the initiative.
