Fox News personalities Brian Kilmeade and Brit Hume on Wednesday raised questions about Vice President Vance's standing among Republican voters ahead of the 2028 presidential race, suggesting his tight alignment with President Trump could complicate his path to the nomination.
During a segment on The Brian Kilmeade Show, Kilmeade said, "I just don't think that Vance is as popular as he thinks he is with Republicans." The remarks came as the two discussed the emerging GOP field, with Vance widely considered an early front-runner.
Hume, Fox News chief political analyst, echoed that skepticism, noting that Vance's fortunes may hinge on how the party views Trump at the end of his second term. "If you're as attached to the hip to Trump as indeed Vance is, it's a good question of if that's a liability or a benefit," Hume said. "I think it might end up being a liability."
The vice president has been a loyal surrogate for Trump, campaigning in key states and defending administration policies. But Hume suggested that such closeness could backfire if Trump's approval ratings remain low, as they have been in recent polls.
Kilmeade pushed back on the notion that Trump would be a drag, arguing the president's political standing could improve as his agenda progresses. "I think it's going to end differently, I actually do," he said, pointing to the administration's handling of Iran as a potential bright spot.
The conversation also touched on Secretary of State Marco Rubio, another potential contender. Hume predicted a crowded GOP primary, despite early attention on Vance and Rubio. He also noted that Democrats might struggle to run against Trump once he leaves office, given his historically low approval numbers.
Trump has not formally endorsed a successor, leaving open whether Vance will enter the race with presidential backing or face competition from within the administration. Some analysts see potential rivals emerging from the cabinet, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has been advancing defense initiatives that could boost his profile.
Vance's team has not responded to the Fox hosts' comments, but allies note his strong fundraising and grassroots support. Still, the skepticism from conservative media figures could signal early cracks in the vice president's armor.
As the 2028 cycle takes shape, the interplay between Trump's legacy and Vance's ambitions will be a key storyline. Whether the vice president can translate his loyalty into broad Republican appeal remains an open question, one that Kilmeade and Hume suggest may not end in his favor.
