Kilmeade, Hume say Vance ‘not as popular as he thinks he is’ ahead of 2028

Fox News’s Brian Kilmeade and Brit Hume shared their doubts Wednesday about Vice President Vance’s prospects in the 2028 presidential race, questioning whether his close association to President Trump could hurt his chances of winning the Republican nomination.

“I just don’t think that Vance is as popular as he thinks he is with Republicans,” Kilmeade said during a conversation with Hume on his radio program “The Brian Kilmeade Show.”

The two were discussing the potential field of presidential contenders in 2028. Hume suggested that Vance, widely viewed as an early front-runner for the GOP nomination, could face challenges depending on how Republicans view Trump by the end of his second term.

“I have a suspicion about Vance, he’s everybody’s ideal front-runner, and he may be,” Hume said, before questioning whether the vice president’s loyalty to Trump would ultimately help or hurt his political ambitions.

“If you’re as attached to the hip to Trump as indeed Vance is, it’s a good question of if that’s a liability or a benefit,” Hume continued. “I think it might end up being a liability.”

Kilmeade disagreed with Hume’s assessment of Trump’s potential influence on the race, arguing that the president’s political standing could improve as his administration advances its agenda.

“I think it’s going to end differently, I actually do,” Kilmeade said, pointing to the administration’s handling of Iran while sharing his skepticism of Vance’s popularity among Republican voters, suggesting the vice president could face a more competitive primary than anticipated.

The conversation also touched on Secretary of State Marco Rubio, another prominent Republican whose name has been floated as a potential 2028 contender.

Hume suggested the GOP primary could attract a crowded field, despite early attention surrounding Vance and Rubio. He also argued that Democrats could face challenges building a campaign around opposition to Trump, who has seen record-low approval ratings in his second term, once the president prepares to leave office.

Trump has not formally endorsed a successor, leaving open questions about whether Vance will enter the 2028 race with the president’s backing or face competition from other members of the administration.