2028 run: Cruz fires back at Vance, calls vice president “insecure”

Sen. Ted Cruz has hit back at Vice President JD Vance, calling him “insecure” after Vance suggested the Texas Republican is already running for the 2028 presidential nomination, POLITICO reports.

“In my experience, people engage in political bomb-throwing when they’re feeling insecure,” Cruz said in a phone interview Saturday. “So he’s welcome to make whatever comments he likes. I’m going to keep focusing on the midterms and helping us win on Election Day in the next 30 days.”

Cruz was responding to an NBC News interview Thursday in which Vance said: “It is really obvious to me that, at this very moment, Ted Cruz is running for president. At this moment, I’m not. I’m trying to help elect Republicans.”

Vance is widely viewed as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, though Cruz has said he does not believe Vance is a sure-fire nominee.

Cruz said he has campaigned for Republicans in Georgia, Iowa, Nebraska, South Carolina and Texas this cycle, with trips planned this month to Alaska, Florida and North Carolina.

A Vance spokesperson did not immediately respond. Vance will rally in Alaska on Monday.