President Donald Trump declined Tuesday to endorse Vice President JD Vance for a potential 2028 presidential campaign, saying it was too early to make a decision with the midterm elections approaching.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump described Vance as talented and a good person but said the two had not discussed a possible presidential bid.

“Well, I’ll tell you this, he’s a very talented person, and he’s a very good person, but we’ve literally, I don’t think we’ve ever talked about it,” Trump said.

Vance agreed, confirming that the subject had not come up between them.

Trump emphasized that his immediate priority was the midterms, which will determine control of Congress for the final two years of his presidency.

“It’s early. We are very early right now. We have to get through the midterms; we’ll see how it goes,” Trump said.

His remarks came one day after Vance told journalist Mark Halperin that he expected Trump would endorse him if he decided to run for president in 2028. Vance acknowledged, however, that he had not discussed the matter directly with the president.

“I would think so, but I don’t know, man. I haven’t talked to him about it,” Vance said when asked whether Trump would endorse him immediately.

Vance also argued that a presidential candidate should have an opportunity to run an independent campaign, even if Trump’s endorsement could carry significant weight in the Republican primary.

He said Trump might choose to let the race develop rather than make an early endorsement that could influence the outcome before voters have weighed in.

During the same interview, Vance said he had not decided whether he would seek the presidency in 2028 and had not focused much attention on the question.

“I just haven’t focused on it,” he told Halperin, acknowledging that the pressure and scrutiny associated with a presidential campaign could factor into his decision.

For now, Trump has made no commitment regarding a successor, leaving the question of his potential 2028 endorsement open as Republicans prepare for the midterm elections.