President Donald Trump discussed Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz’s potential 2028 presidential ambitions during an Oval Office press conference on Thursday, August 27th, 2026. When asked by the Daily Caller if Cruz could be president, Trump responded, "He’s very talented. I think he might do that."

The remarks followed Cruz’s statements in an MSNow interview where he said the GOP had not settled on Vice President JD Vance as the 2028 presidential candidate and that there would be a full discussion about who would run. Cruz later acknowledged on a podcast that he wants to be president.

According to a Washington Post report, during a recent private Oval Office meeting, President Trump appeared to indicate who he wants to run in 2028. The report also stated that Trump polled guests on Marine One about whether Vance or Senator Marco Rubio should run. However, after the report was published, Trump denied it in the Oval Office to the Daily Caller.

The developments highlight ongoing discussions and speculation within the Republican Party about the 2028 presidential race.

Sources