JD Vance’s convention keynote sparks chants for 2028 presidential run

Vice President JD Vance took the stage on the closing day of the GOP midterm convention in Dallas, delivering a two-hour keynote that drew enthusiastic chants for a 2028 presidential bid. The event unfolded without his likely rival, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and with Donald Trump limiting his appearance to a short closing remark after Vance’s address. Vance adhered mostly to prepared remarks, except for a sharp retort to a protester waving a Mexican flag, which impressed many in the audience.

Attendees such as Frank McCaffrey and Jim Danner described the performance as the most compelling and smooth they had seen, noting his appeal to family values and outreach to disaffected conservatives over the Iran war debate. The crowd’s reaction, including chants of “JD 28,” signals a growing perception of Vance as the party’s next leading figure, though he emphasized focusing on the upcoming November elections.