The key facts

  • Vance: 'Of course there's a chance' he will not run in 2028
  • Trump had called Vance the Republican Party's 'most likely' successor
  • On Iran: the US is seeking a 'firm commitment' not to restore the nuclear program

Vance Open to Skipping the Presidential Race

US Vice President JD Vance said he has not yet decided whether to run for president in 2028, although he is widely seen as one of the leading contenders to succeed Donald Trump. At a one-hour town hall with voters in Michigan, the recording of which CBS News published on Saturday evening, host Tony Dokoupil asked whether Vance might not run at all. 'Of course there's a chance,' he replied. Vance described himself as someone who likes to put off major life decisions and said he would 'have to think about it,' citing his four young children and his wife Usha Vance, who, according to him, 'never loved politics' but 'loves public service.' Trump had previously called Vance his 'most likely' successor from the Republican Party.

The Economy and Iran

Vance defended the administration's economic and foreign policy, blaming the Joe Biden administration for the decline of manufacturing, but acknowledged that its recovery will take time. Speaking about the conflict with Iran and high fuel prices, he said: 'I understand that gasoline prices are too high right now,' adding: 'When this conflict is over, we will see gasoline prices come down.' Defending Trump's Iran strategy, Vance said the US had 'in some sense... won decisively,' but cautioned that 'the adversary also has a say.' According to him, Washington is seeking from Tehran 'a final firm commitment that they will not rebuild their nuclear program.'

Response to Corruption Accusations

Vance also rejected corruption accusations against the president, saying he had not seen 'a single shred of evidence that (Trump) is involved in this corruption or sanctioning it.'