Vice President JD Vance says he will not decide whether to run for president in 2028 until after the 2026 midterm elections. He also said he does not talk to President Trump about his political future.

Washington insiders have been wondering since Vance became vice president: Is he getting ready to run after Trump, or is he committed to staying loyal? Vance's answer is: not yet. By saying he will decide after the midterms, he is connecting his choice to an election that will show how strong Trump's political coalition is — and whether Vance matters within it.

There is a reason for this timing. Midterm election results influence who can run for higher office next. If Republicans do well in November 2026, it helps Trump's record and makes Vance look like a strong ally. If Republicans do poorly, the field opens up for others who might challenge the current approach. For a vice president who needs Trump's support right now, waiting is the smartest move.

Vance also said he does not bring up 2028 with Trump himself. This matters. History shows that vice presidents who prepare too openly for their own political future damage their relationship with the sitting president, sometimes permanently. A president's power over his party partly depends on controlling who comes next. By saying Trump gets to raise the topic, Vance is showing respect for Trump's control, whether or not that is the whole story in private conversations.

A New Book on Faith

Vance is also publishing a memoir. HarperCollins is releasing Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith in 2026. The book is about his conversion to the Catholic Church, which EWTN News reported on when it was announced.

Why does the timing of this book matter? Politicians often write memoirs about their values when they are preparing for a big campaign. It is a way to tell voters: here is who I am. Vance's first book, Hillbilly Elegy, told the story of working-class life in struggling industrial towns. This new book adds another layer: his spiritual life and his choice to become Catholic.

Catholic voters matter in Republican politics right now. The party has many evangelical Christian voters, but Catholic voters — especially those with traditional views — have been gaining influence. By writing this book about his faith, Vance is speaking to these voters directly.

None of this proves he will definitely run. A vice president writing a book about faith is not automatically a campaign announcement. But taken together — a book about values, staying quiet about 2028 with Trump, and promising to decide after the midterms — it looks like a candidate preparing the ground. It keeps his options open while protecting what matters most: his relationship with Trump right now.

The biggest question is what the 2026 midterm results will show. If Republicans win decisively, Vance's background as a Catholic convert who speaks for working-class Americans might look like the party's future. If they do not, it might look like something from the past. The election will tell.