Sen. Jim Banks publicly endorsed Vice President JD Vance for president in 2028 after Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska said he was considering a White House bid, marking an early endorsement in the emerging Republican presidential field.

Banks also sharply criticized Bacon's potential campaign, telling the Indianapolis Star that it was “laughable” that Bacon would consider running for president. Banks described the Nebraska Republican as one of the most “irrelevant and anti-Trump” members of Congress over the past decade.

“Vice President JD Vance is the clear choice in 2028 to carry on our America First agenda and I look forward to supporting him,” Banks said.

Bacon, who has represented Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District since 2017, said earlier this month that he would “love to” run for president but would also consider serving as another candidate's running mate. He has announced that he will leave Congress at the end of his current term and is not seeking reelection in 2026.

Bacon has emphasized decency, Christian values, and a less combative approach to Republican leadership when discussing a potential presidential campaign. He has also differed with President Donald Trump on several issues during his congressional career.

Banks, who was elected to the Senate in 2024 after serving in the House, is among the first sitting Republican senators to publicly back a potential 2028 presidential candidate. His endorsement comes as Republicans begin positioning for the next presidential cycle, even though the 2028 field remains unsettled.