Fox Star Warns Vance He’s Not as Popular as He Thinks
Brian Kilmeade believes JD Vance, despite being a loyal No. 2 to President Donald Trump, is not actually all that popular among Republicans.
Influential right-wing pundits have expressed reservations about JD Vance’s potential 2028 presidential run.
Fox News host Brian Kilmeade and senior political analyst Brit Hume discussed frontrunner Republican presidential candidates on the Brian Kilmeade Show when Vance’s name came up, and the duo is not ready to crown him MAGA’s heir apparent.

Kilmeade has offered a sobering view of Vance's chances of winning the presidency in 2028.
The Brian Kilmeade Show/Fox News
“Everybody talks about Rubio and Vance,” Hume, 83, said. “I have a suspicion about Vance. He’s everybody’s idea of the frontrunner, and he may be, but a lot depends on how the public and the party feel about Donald Trump by the time 2028 rolls around.”
He continued, “If you’re as attached to the hip to Trump as, indeed, Vance is, it’s a good question whether that is a liability or a benefit… I think it might end up being a liability.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Kilmeade disagreed that Trump would be unpopular by the next presidential election, but concurred with Hume’s opinion of Vance.
Trump has stopped short of endorsing anyone for 2028—though JD Vance and Marco Rubio are the early favorites on the Republican side.
Kevin Lamarque/Kevin Lamarque/REUTERS
“I think it’s going to end differently, I actually do, because once the Iran thing is done, I think a lot of his policy going into place… it’s going to be up to him to start to solidify it into legislation,” Kilmeade said. “I just don’t think Vance is as popular as he thinks he is with Republicans.”
Sign Up for The Swamp Newsletter
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Nearing the halfway mark of Trump’s second term, polling numbers seem to support Kilmeade’s hypothesis. Vance’s popularity has followed a similar downtrend to Trump’s in recent months, with 53 percent of Americans finding him unfavorable and 41 percent finding him unfavorable, according to an October Economist/YouGov poll.
Earlier this month, Vance told journalist Mark Halperin that he believed the president would endorse him if he chose to run in 2028.
“I really have not made up my mind about what to do in 2028. I just haven’t focused on it. We, you, and I have talked about that. Look, I think if I run, the president will endorse me,” Vance said.
His assumption was rebuffed by Trump the following day, when the president told a reporter with Vance standing directly behind him that Vance was a “very talented” and “good person,” but that “It’s early. Very early.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also seen as a Republican contender for the 2028 presidential election.
Kevin Lamarque/Kevin Lamarque/REUTERS
Kilmeade and Hume claim that Democrats will struggle to rally the troops around an anti-Trump coalition in 2028, since the president’s second term will start winding down after the midterms.
“They’re not for anything,” Hume said of Democrats. “They’re against Trump.”
“They’re a party without a program,” Kilmeade added. “Wealth tax, is that something to run on? What? Medicare for All? That’s not serious.”
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
ADVERTISEMENT
Sign in or create an account
Login dialog
Loading comments…
ADVERTISEMENT