JD Vance: “It’s Really Obvious” Ted Cruz Is Running For President — Vance Still Undecided On 2028

U.S. Senator JD Vance told NBC News that he believes Senator Ted Cruz is already positioning himself for a presidential bid, while emphasizing that he himself has not yet decided whether he will run in 2028.

In an interview published Thursday, Vance was asked about Cruz’s growing public profile and whether Cruz’s recent activity signaled an active campaign for the White House.

Cruz has recently told MS NOW that Vance has not secured the Republican nomination and that he wants to "certainly be part of the discussion." The Texas senator has framed the GOP’s future as a choice between a "small-government, free-market conservative party" and a "big-government, nanny-state party."

"It is really obvious to me that, at this very moment, Ted Cruz is running for president," Vance said. "At this moment, I'm not. I'm trying to help elect Republicans. That's what I'm going to keep on doing."

Cruz, who is not up for re-election this year, has been campaigning for Republican candidates around the country, including stops in Iowa and South Carolina — two early and influential states in the presidential nominating calendar. NBC News reports he is also expected to campaign for Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and for Republican hopefuls Ken Paxton in Texas and Michael Whatley in North Carolina.

A Cruz spokesperson told NBC News: "Senator Cruz has been focused on electing Republicans up and down the ballot this November, and he will continue campaigning vigorously over the next several weeks to help make that happen."

Vance said the outcome of the midterm elections and other developments over the coming weeks will be among the factors he considers when deciding whether to run for president.

"You make these decisions by collecting as much information and trying to make a wise decision," Vance said. "And yeah, I mean, regardless of what happens over the next 35 days, there will be new information, new things you have to make a decision over."

When asked whether significant Republican losses could deter him from running, Vance avoided hypotheticals: "Right now, I try not to think too much in hypotheticals. I'm just going to try to do as well as I can and encourage people to elect the candidates that I think are good. The American people make that decision, and when they do, then yeah, I'll have some new information to consider." He conceded there is "always a bit of an uphill climb," but said Republicans have reason for "cautious optimism."

This report was first published on Mediaite and draws on Vance's interview with NBC News.