Vice President JD Vance has pushed back against reports claiming he is no longer expected to pursue a presidential bid in 2028 following Tulsi Gabbard’s resignation as national intelligence director. Vance’s team responded publicly after a report from the Daily Mail claimed he was “more isolated than ever” following Gabbard’s departure. Representatives for Vance described the report as being based on “illegitimate sources.”
JD Vance reacts to claims he’s ‘isolated’ in White House
Following Tulsi Gabbard’s resignation as national intelligence director, reports emerged suggesting that Vice President JD Vance may no longer pursue a presidential campaign in 2028 (via The Independent). A report from the Daily Mail claimed that Gabbard’s departure, described as the loss of one of Vance’s most visible allies, left the vice president “more isolated than ever.”
According to reports, Gabbard resigned following her husband’s bone cancer diagnosis. However, earlier reports also claimed that she had been sidelined from major foreign policy discussions because of differences with the administration.
After reports surfaced suggesting Vance had become isolated within the administration and could step away from a future presidential bid, his team responded critically to the claims. A spokesperson for Vance said the report was “just a flimsy compilation of completely illegitimate sources who have no idea what they’re talking about.”
JD Vance has widely been viewed as a potential successor to President Donald Trump following the end of Trump’s term. However, reports have suggested that the United States’ conflict involving Iran created differences between Vance and others in the administration due to his non-interventionist “America First” foreign policy stance.
Reports have also suggested that Marco Rubio has taken on a more prominent role within the administration in recent months. “Rubio has more mojo than Vance. The president listens to him. Vance is out of step and has been for a long time,” an unnamed source reportedly told the Daily Mail.
Gabbard’s departure marks the second exit involving one of Vance’s prominent allies after Joe Kent stepped down as director of the National Counterterrorism Centre in March.
