Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, says he is not betting on Vice President JD Vance to capture the Republican presidential nomination in 2028.
Christie made the prediction Thursday during an interview at George Washington University, where he argued that Vance’s close ties to President Donald Trump will ultimately hurt him with GOP voters.
“He is going to reek with the stink of Donald Trump,” Christie said. “And I think that the Republican Party will probably look at that and say, ‘I don’t want a Democrat to get elected, and if I nominate him, the overwhelming likelihood is he will.'”
According to Christie, Vance’s connection to Trump is not the vice president’s only obstacle. Christie also questioned whether Vance has the personal appeal needed to win over voters.
“JD is not nearly as charming as Trump,” Christie said. “You say what you want about Trump, but he has charm and he has some charisma, when he decides to use it. I haven’t seen that out of Vance yet.”
GW media professor Frank Sesno asked whether Vance might be able to secure the nomination by putting some distance between himself and Trump. Sesno compared the scenario to 1988, when George H.W. Bush was able to do the same with then-President Ronald Reagan.
Christie said he does not see that playing out for Vance.
“It’s much different,” Christie said.
The former governor argued that it will be difficult for Vance to separate himself from Trump. Even if Vance moves away from the president’s policies and “voodoo economics,” Christie said, Democrats will still be able to point out that Vance once compared Trump to Hitler and then went on to serve in his administration.
Sesno also asked Christie about several other Republicans who could seek the nomination.
Christie said he does not expect Secretary of State Marco Rubio to run in 2028. He described Rubio as a smart man who understands that he is now branded as a “Trump Republican.” Christie said Rubio will likely wait for a future election to make his own bid for the presidency.
The conversation then turned to Christie himself, as Sesno asked whether the former governor might jump into the race.
“I’m gonna look at it,” Christie said. “But there are going to be a number of things that have to happen.”
Sesno noted that a 2028 campaign would mark Christie’s third run for president.
Christie was quick with a response, pointing to a familiar name from Republican history.
“True, just like Reagan. He got elected on the third time,” Christie said.
While Christie stopped short of committing to a campaign, his remarks made clear he sees an opening in the 2028 Republican field. In his view, the vice president’s ties to Trump and his lack of charisma could leave GOP voters looking elsewhere when it comes time to choose a nominee.
