Roll up, roll up for the 2028 presidential contest. I know we haven’t had the midterm elections yet, but the unusual mid-season Republican Party convention in Dallas next week is going to give Vice President JD Vance the chance to show the Maga faithful whether he’s made of the right stuff.
Vance remains the presumptive heir to President Donald Trump, but he’s looking vulnerable. A potential rival has emerged in the shape of self-styled Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. You would think the Iran stalemate would make Hegseth too embarrassed to run for America’s commander-in-chief but his friends believe tomorrow belongs to him.
Close advisers are discussing his prospects, according to multiple media reports. Although Hegseth has distanced himself from the rumors, the 2028 race has become tantalisingly open.
Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, could be a “submarine” candidate, but for now he seems content to play second fiddle to Vance. The hyperactive Hegseth, in contrast, has been purging the Pentagon and creating a new model army in his “warrior” image.
Trump boosted Hegseth this week by saying, “He’s doing a fantastic job”. Asked if he would support his defence secretary, he replied: “It’s very early to talk about that,” but added, “I think he’s a very good guy.” This was an important statement of confidence after Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned on Monday. Driscoll was polite about Hegseth in public but reportedly warned Trump at a private White House meeting that Hegseth was causing havoc in the US armed forces.
