Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) escalated a war of words with Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) on Wednesday, responding sharply after Banks ridiculed Bacon's suggestion that he might run for president in 2028.
The spat began when Banks replied "LOL" to a post on X from the account Politics and Poll Tracker, which had shared a story about Bacon's presidential ambitions. Bacon, who is leaving the House at the end of this term, did not take the jab lightly.
In a late-night response on X, Bacon wrote: "MANY have worked with Jim Banks over the last 10 years. He has an IQ and EQ of a BAKED potato. His moral compass is skewed to his political calculus at all times. His finger is always in the air… no moral compass. His finger always leans pro Russian."
Banks, a staunch ally of former President Trump, fired back in comments to Igor Bobic of The Washington Sun, calling Bacon's presidential prospects "laughable." He described Bacon as a "longtime irrelevant member of the House" and an "outspoken critic of President Trump," adding that Bacon was so unpopular in his district that he couldn't get reelected, so he's quitting.
Bacon, who announced last year he would not seek another term, has openly floated a White House run. On the podcast "Our Republican Legacy" last week, he said he "would love to" be president but would also be happy to support another candidate with similar values. "I do definitely want to be on a team, whether I'm the lead or part of the team, fighting for these values for our country," he said.
The exchange highlights the ongoing jockeying within the GOP as potential 2028 contenders emerge. While no Republican has formally entered the race, figures like Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are seen as possible heirs to Trump's political movement. Rubio recently told a Colombian news outlet he has no plans to run, while Vance received chants of "48" at the RNC's Dallas convention. A recent Emerson College/The Hill poll showed Rubio performing slightly better than Vance in hypothetical matchups against Democrats, though both lost to former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Bacon's criticism of Banks' foreign policy stance aligns with his own moderate wing of the party, which has often clashed with the more Trump-aligned faction. The administration's approach to Russia remains a fault line. Bacon's jab about Banks being "pro Russian" reflects broader intra-party tensions over how to handle Moscow.
As Bacon prepares to leave Congress, his potential presidential bid is a long shot, but his willingness to take on a sitting senator shows he's not going quietly. The feud also underscores the shifting dynamics within the GOP as it looks toward 2028.
