President Donald Trump has publicly suggested for the first time that Vice President JD Vance is “most likely” to be his political successor in 2028. Speaking to reporters on August 5, Trump said, “In all fairness, he’s the vice president,” when asked if Vance is the heir apparent to his movement.
The endorsement marks Trump’s clearest signal yet about the future of the Republican Party. Vance, 41, a former Marine and author of 'Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis,' has played a high-profile role in the Trump administration, representing the president’s policies both at home and abroad.
Vance’s rapid political ascent continues to draw attention. But who exactly is JD Vance? What kind of career path has he followed so far? Click through to learn more about the man now seen as Trump’s potential successor.