JD Vance calls Ted Cruz 'authentic and likable' amid 2028 buzz
Natassia Paloma, USA TODAY NETWORK
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Vice President JD Vance is weighing in on a potential presidential run by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
Vance was asked whether he could see himself supporting Cruz or Pete Hegseth for president in 2028 during a White House media briefing on Sept. 3.
"Clearly Ted is a very authentic and likable guy, and I'm sure he'll do great," Vance said.
Vance cautioned against focusing on the 2028 presidential race, instead encouraging Republicans to focus on the 2026 midterm elections.
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"Politically, I'm very much focused on the midterm elections," Vance said, adding that he is currently supporting candidates seeking election in November.
Second lady Usha Vance and Vice President JD Vance arrive for a military mothers celebration in the East Room of the White House on May 6, 2026 in Washington, DC.
(Anna Moneymaker, Getty Images)Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance greet the Taoiseach of Ireland Micheál Martin and his wife Mary O'Shea before a St Patrick's Day breakfast at the Vice President's residence in the US Naval Observatory on March 17, 2026 in Washington, DC.
(Pool photo by Roberto Schmidt) Second lady Usha Vance and first lady Melania Trump arrive for a dignified transfer event at Dover Air Force Base March 7, 2026 in Dover, Del. Six soldiers from the 103rd Sustainment Command were killed in action by an Iranian drone strike March 1 in Port Shuabia, Kuwait during Operation Epic Fury.
(Anna Moneymaker, Getty Images)
Second lady Usha Vance applauds World War II veteren Buddy Taggart salutes during President Donald Trump's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress at the Capitol on Feb. 24, 2026 in Washington, DC.
(Pool photo by Kenny Holston)
Vice President JD Vance and Usha Vance pay tribute near the Eternal Flame during a visit to Martyrs' Lane, a memorial for those killed by Soviet troops in 1990, on Feb. 11, 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
(Pool photo by Kevin Lamarque)
Vice President JD Vance, second lady Usha Vance, along with their children Mirabel, Ewan and Vivek, disembark Air Force Two as they arrive on Feb. 9, 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia.
(Pool photo by Kevin Lamarque)
Usha Vance watches a Women’s skating event during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games on Feb. 8, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
(Andreas Rentz, Getty Images)
Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance watch the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 6, 2026.
(Alexander Nemenov, AFP via Getty Images)
Vice President JD Vance said he and second lady Usha Vance are expecting their fourth child, a baby boy.
JD Vance issued a statement on their expected baby on Jan. 20, 2026 which he said is due in July.Seen here, Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance serve food to attendees at the Allentown Rescue Mission on Dec. 16, 2025 in Allentown, Pa.
(Pool photo by Tom Brenner) Second lady Usha Vance helps make Red Cross holiday care packages during an event inside a hangar on Dec. 1, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Md.
(Andrew Harnik, Getty Images)
Second lady Usha Vance interacts with children during her and U.S. first lady Melania Trump's visit to an elementary school at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC on Nov. 19, 2025.
(Kevin Lamarque, REUTERS) Second lady Usha Vance (L) and first lady Melania Trump depart a plane as they arrive at Albert J. Ellis Airport en route to Camp Lejeune on Nov.19, 2025 in Richlands, North Carolina. Trump and Vance are traveling together for the day to visit military families and schools at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
(Anna Moneymaker, Getty Images)
Jamie Boehm (L), Chief of Prosthetic and Orthotic Services at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, discusses prosthetics with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance as they tour the Military Advanced Training Center (MATC) at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Nov. 10, 2025, in Bethesda, Maryland. Vance met members of the military the day before Veterans Day, the nation's holiday to honor those who have served in the U.S. military.
(Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Usha Vance and U.S. Vice President JD Vance attend the opening night of "Les Misérables" at The Kennedy Center on June 11, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
(Shannon Finney/Getty Images)
Vice President JD Vance and his wife second lady Usha Vance arrive to attend a Holy Mass for the Beginning of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, in St. Peter's square in The Vatican on May 18, 2025.
(Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images)
Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance arrive at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Rome on May 17, 2025. Vance is in Rome to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV.
(POOL photo by Jacquelyn Martin via AFP via Getty Images)
US Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance, along with their children Ewan (C), Vivek (R) and Mirabel, pose for a photo in front of the Akshardham Temple in New Delhi on April 21, 2025. Vance begins a four-day visit to India on April 21 as New Delhi looks to seal an early trade deal and stave off punishing US tariffs. His tour includes a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
(POOL photo by Kenny Holston via AFP via Getty Images)
Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance disembark an aircraft as their daughter Mirabel (top 2L) and son Ewan (top R) look on upon their arrival at the airport in New Delhi on April 21, 2025. Vance begins a four-day visit to India on April 21 as New Delhi looks to seal an early trade deal and stave off punishing US tariffs. His tour includes a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
(POOL photo by Kenny Holston via AFP via Getty Images)
Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance attend the celebration of the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday as part of the Holy Week, at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on April 18, 2025.
(ANDREAS SOLARO, AFP via Getty Images)
Vice President JD Vance, his wife Usha Vance, daughter Mirabel and sons Ewan (L) and Vivek pose during their tour at the Taj Mahal in Agra on April 23, 2025. Vance said on April 22 that "good progress" had been made towards a trade deal with India after meeting with "tough negotiator" Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
(POOL photo by Kenny Holston via AFP via Getty Images)
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance pose as they tour the U.S. military's Pituffik Space Base on March 28, 2025, in Pituffik, Greenland. The itinerary for the visit was scaled back after a plan for a more extensive trip drew criticism from officials in Greenland and Denmark, which controls foreign and defense policy of the semiautonomous territory.
(Pool, Getty Images)
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance welcome Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheal Martin and his wife Mary O'Shea for breakfast, ahead of St. Patrick's Day, at the vice president's residence in Washington, D.C., March 12, 2025.
(Leah Millis, REUTERS)
Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance wave upon landing at Munich international airport, southern Germany, on Feb. 13, 2025, one day before the start of the Munich Security Conference.
(Tobias Schwarz, AFP via Getty Images)
Usha Vance listens to her husband Vice President JD Vance speak to a crowd at plastics manufacturer Vantage Plastics in Bangor Township on Friday, March 14, 2025.
(Ryan Garza, USA TODAY Network)
Usha Vance, second from left, arrives ahead of President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2025.
(Jack Gruber, USA TODAY)
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by his wife Usha Vance, attends the Annual Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Feb. 14, 2025.
(Javad Parsa, via REUTERS)
Vice President JD Vance stands with his wife Usha Vance as they take part in a tour of the Dachau Concentration Camp memorial site in Dachau, Germany, on Feb. 13, 2025.
(Tobias Schwarz, AFP via Getty Images)
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron pose with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance as they arrive for a meeting at the Elysee Palace as part of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit in Paris, France, February 11, 2025.
(Abdul Saboor, REUTERS)
Usha Vance looks on as U.S. Vice President-elect former Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) is sworn in during inauguration ceremonies in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.
(Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images)
U.S. Vice President-elect JD Vance takes oath as his wife Usha Vance reacts on the day of the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., Jan. 20, 2025.
(Kevin Lamarque, Reuters)
US President-elect Donald Trump speaks with Vice President-elect JD Vance (L) and Usha Vance (2nd L) during a church service at St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square in Washington, DC, Jan. 20, 2025.
(Jim Watson, AFP via Getty Images)
(L-R) Usha Vance, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, and U.S. Vice President-elect former Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) stand together at the White House ahead of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.
(Win McNamee, Getty Images)
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris greet Vice President-elect U.S. Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) and Usha Vance ahead of Inauguration ceremonies at the White House on January 20, 2025, in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.
(Anna Moneymaker, Getty Images)
Usha Vance and Vice President-elect, U.S. Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) arrive for service at St. John's Church during Inauguration ceremonies on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.
(Scott Olson, Getty Images)
US Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff and Vice President Kamala Harris welcome Vice President-elect JD Vance and Usha Vance as they arrive at the White House in Washington, DC, on Jan. 20, 2025, before departing for the US Capitol for the inauguration ceremony.
(Jim Watson, AFP via Getty Images)
US former First Lady Melania Trump (L) and Usha Vance (R) arrive to attend a wreath-laying by US President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, on Jan. 19, 2025.
(Jim Watson, AFP via Getty Images)
U.S. Vice President-elect JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, attend the Vice Presidential Dinner at the National Gallery of Art on Jan. 18, 2025, in Washington, DC. The Trump-Vance Inauguration Committee organized the fundraising dinner at the National Gallery of Art to be held two days before former President Donald Trump's second inauguration.
(Eric Thayer, Getty Images)
JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance during the balloon drop at final day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum. The final day of the RNC featured a keynote address by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
(Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
U.S. Senate candidate JD Vance greets his wife, Usha, after they voted in the 2022 midterm election in Cincinnati on Nov. 8, 2022.
(Albert Cesare, The Enquirer)
Sen. JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance tour the Dairy Products Building at the Ohio State Fair with Scott Higgins, CEO of the American Dairy Association - Mideast and the Ohio Dairy Producers Association on Aug. 4, 2023 in Columbus.
(Barbara J. Perenic, The Columbus Dispatch)
Sen. JD Vance (Ohio) celebrates with crowds on the floor as he introduced with his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance during the first day of the Republican National Convention. The RNC kicked off the first day of the convention with the roll call vote of the states.
(Mike De Sisti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Vice presidential nominee JD Vance hugs his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance, during the third day of the Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum. The third day of the RNC focused on foreign policy and threats.
(Jasper Colt, USA TODAY)
Donald J. Trump, center, JD Vance, left and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson sign official nomination documents along with their wives, from left, Usha Chilukuri Vance, Melania Trump and Kelly Johnson during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum. The final day of the RNC featured a keynote address by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
(Mike De Sisti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Former President Donald Trump speaks with JD Vance and his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance on stage during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 18, 2024 in Milwaukee, WI.
(Megan Smith, USA TODAY)
Vice presidential candidate JD Vance with his wife, Usha Vance, gets ready to speak at his rally inside Middletown High School, Monday, July 22, 2024. The Ohio senator is the running mate of former President Donald Trump.
(Cara Owsley, The Enquirer)
Republican Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance (left) walks onstage with wife Usha Vance at a rally July 27 at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
(Reid Glenn, St. Cloud Times via USA TODAY Network)
Ohio Sen. and Republican nominee for vice president JD Vance, and his wife, Usha take the stage at Middletown High School Monday, July 22, 2024. Vance returned to his hometown of Middletown for his first rally after being named former President Donald Trump's running mate.
(Cara Owsley, The Enquirer)
Vice President nominee JD Vance, and his wife, Usha, left, attend the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason Tuesday, August 13, 2024. The Vances sat in the suites area on Center Court to watch the first-round ATP matchup between Americans Taylor Fritz and Brandon Nakashima.
(Cara Owsley, The Enquirer)
Vice Presidential Nominee, Senator JD Vance, R-Ohio, with his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance attend a roundtable discussion with local law enforcement during a campaign event at the Milwaukee Police Association Local 2 August 16 Milwaukee
(Jovanny Hernandez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Vice Presidential nominee Senator JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, leave a campaign rally at Defender Ammunition Company in Raeford, NC, Oct. 25, 2024.
(Andrew Craft, The Fayetteville Observer)
Usha Vance, wife of Sen. JD Vance, vice presidential candidate on the ticket with former Republican President Donald Trump, watches her husband talk to the media after voting on Election Day in Walnut Hills, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Their three kids came with them.
(Liz Dufour, The Enquirer)
Vice President-elect JD Vance and his wife, Usha, view images from the devastating flooding of Tropical Storm Helene at the Fairview Fire Department near Asheville, December 6, 2024.
(Angela Wilhelm, Asheville Citizen Times)
JD Vance and his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance stand with Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump, Jr. on stage at the conclusion of the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on July 18, 2024. The final day of the RNC featured a keynote address by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
(Jasper Colt, USA TODAY)
Usha Vance: See the second lady, lawyer, mother
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Second lady Usha Vance and Vice President JD Vance arrive for a military mothers celebration in the East Room of the White House on May 6, 2026 in Washington, DC.
(Anna Moneymaker, Getty Images)Vance's comments come after President Donald Trump also praised Cruz, his former Republican primary rival, as a "very talented guy." Trump was asked by a reporter Thursday, Aug. 27, in the Oval Office, what he thought about the Texas Republican potentially making another run for the White House.
"I would say that he's very talented. He's a very good friend of mine," Trump said. "I think he might do that. Yeah, he's a talented guy."
Cruz, who finished second to Trump in the 2016 Republican presidential primaries, has recently fueled speculation that he could make another bid for the White House.
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"It's no secret that I want to be president," Cruz said during an appearance on Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's podcast.
When Patrick directly asked Cruz whether he planned to run again, Cruz stopped short of announcing a campaign.
"Time will tell," Cruz said.
More: Ken Paxton responds after Trump says his suit doesn't 'look so great'
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: JD Vance calls Ted Cruz 'authentic and likable' amid 2028 buzz
