Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) made clear Sunday on ABC News’s This Week that he does not see Vice President JD Vance as someone he would support in a hypothetical 2028 presidential bid, underscoring deep philosophical differences over trade and the future direction of the GOP.
When asked whether he views Vance — widely viewed within GOP circles as a leading contender to carry the Republican banner after President Donald Trump — as the so-called heir apparent, Paul was direct about the limits of their alignment.
“I think there needs to be representatives in the Republican Party who still believe international trade is good, who still believe in free market capitalism, who still believe in low taxes,” Paul said, emphasizing his long-standing libertarian philosophy.
Pressed on whether that description fits Vance, Paul answered, “No.”
Paul lamented what he sees as a shift in GOP economic thinking — away from traditional free-market conservatism toward protectionist policies that embrace tariffs.
“It used to separate conservatives and liberals that conservatives thought it was a spending problem — we didn’t want less revenue, we wanted less spending,” he said.
“But now all these pro-tariff protectionists, they love taxes. And so they tax, tax, tax, and then they brag about all the revenue coming in. That has never been a conservative position.”
Paul said he intends to continue championing a free-market, low-tax wing of the party and will let time — and voters — determine where GOP leadership settles.
Context: Trump, Vance, and a Fractured GOP
Vance’s position as a prominent Trump loyalist — often touted by MAGA-aligned activists as the next leader of the movement — stands in contrast to Paul’s more classical libertarian outlook. Trump and Vance have worked closely throughout the administration, and Trump himself has suggested both Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio would make strong contenders in 2028, even as speculation swirls about Trump’s own future political plans.
Paul and Vance’s disagreements aren’t limited to trade. Earlier in 2025, Paul publicly criticized Vance’s support for a controversial U.S. military strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling vessel — going so far as to call the actions Vance defended “despicable and thoughtless” for celebrating lethal force without due process. This public spar highlights deeper philosophical divides between the libertarian wing of the party and its more interventionist or nationalist elements.
Those tensions reflect a broader conversation within the GOP about its core principles — from foreign policy to economic strategy — as the party prepares for post-Trump leadership.
Erika Kirk Endorses Vance for 2028
Adding to the political backdrop, Erika Kirk — the widow of conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk and the organization’s CEO — officially endorsed Vice President Vance for president in 2028 during the group’s annual AmericaFest conference in Phoenix.
Kirk, speaking to thousands of activists, pledged Turning Point’s powerful grassroots support and framed Vance as a continuation of her husband’s conservative legacy:
“We are going to get my husband’s friend JD Vance elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible.”
Her endorsement — and Turning Point’s mobilization capacity on campuses and with younger conservatives — could be a significant boost in the early stages of a national campaign, even though Vance has not yet announced a formal campaign bid
