US VP set to lead MAGA into 2028, with Trump’s backing solidifying his position

Just eight months after President Donald Trump selected JD Vance as his vice presidential pick, the Ohio senator is already being seen as the likely heir to the MAGA movement in 2028.

According to Senator Jim Banks (R-Indiana), a close ally of Trump, Vance's ascension to the GOP nomination seems inevitable, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

"I think it's inevitable at this point that Vance will be the [GOP] nominee in 2028," Banks said.

"He's the future of the America First movement and he's already proven himself."

The sentiment comes amid rising support for Vance from key figures in Trump’s circle, including his family, financial backers, and influential members of the MAGA media sphere. For many Trump loyalists, the idea is clear: the former president dismantled the old Republican Party, and Vance is seen as the leader who can finish building the new one.

Vance’s strong alignment with Trump has been evident in his public performances, including his confrontational approach toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting at the Oval Office.

While this drew criticism from both sides of the Atlantic and within the Republican Party, Vance's combative stance earned widespread praise from Trump’s supporters. At the Munich Security Conference, his remarks—which offended many European leaders—were viewed by Republicans back home as a display of tough, unapologetic leadership.

In addition to his political performances, Vance has also earned favor from powerful financial figures within Trump’s network. At February’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Vance dominated a straw poll of potential 2028 GOP nominees, winning with 61 per cent of the vote, far outpacing Steve Bannon, who came in second with just 12 per cent.

Jim McLaughlin, the pollster who conducted the survey, attributed Vance’s success to his alignment with Trump’s values.

Vance’s success can also be credited to his strong relationships with MAGA America First influencers, such as Jack Posobiec, who frequently refers to Vance as "48" — suggesting him as the 48th president of the United States.

At 40 years old, Vance represents a younger, digitally savvy figure in the MAGA movement, possibly a more natural fit for the internet age than Trump himself. However, some of his supporters acknowledge that Vance lacks the showmanship and media magnetism that made Trump a household name.

Despite the enthusiasm surrounding Vance, some Democratic strategists remain skeptical about his ability to become a national candidate, pointing out that he had been in the Senate for just 18 months when Trump selected him as vice president.

Meanwhile, Vance’s rapid rise has drawn attention from rivals, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. DeSantis, once a Trump rival, now shares a strong relationship with the former president. Some have speculated that Trump’s cordiality toward DeSantis may be a strategic move to keep potential Vance challengers at bay and prevent the vice president from becoming too complacent.

"This president will never be a lame duck and he won't be treated like one," said one Trump adviser. "So if I had to guess, DeSantis acts as a little bit of a buffer."

When asked last month whether he sees Vance as his successor for the 2028 GOP nomination, Trump responded, “It’s too early.”

Despite the uncertainty, many of Trump’s allies view Vance as a more intellectual version of the MAGA movement. While Trump is often described as a blunt-force object, Vance’s Yale Law background and policy-oriented approach provide a contrast, and some hope that he will bring a more thoughtful and articulate dimension to Trump’s vision in the years ahead.

By Vafa Guliyeva