Ted Cruz Tells ‘Insecure’ JD Vance to Chill Out About 2028

(Photos via: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin and the New York Post’s Pod Force One Podcast)

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) accused JD Vance of acting “insecure” on Saturday, two days after the vice president said it was “really obvious” Cruz is plotting a 2028 presidential run.

The Texas conservative jabbed back at Vance in a phone interview with Politico. Cruz claimed he’s more concerned with helping the GOP win midterm elections than boosting his odds of succeeding President Donald Trump in the White House.

“In my experience, people engage in political bomb-throwing when they’re feeling insecure,” Cruz said. “So he’s welcome to make whatever comments he likes. I’m going to keep focusing on the midterms and helping us win on Election Day in the next 30 days.”

His response followed Vance telling NBC News it was clear as day that Cruz was running for president; Vance said he was more focused on 2026 than his potential ’28 run right now.

“It is really obvious to me that, at this very moment, Ted Cruz is running for president,” Vance said. “At this moment, I’m not. I’m trying to help elect Republicans. That’s what I’m going to keep on doing.”

Vance is the betting favorite to be the GOP nominee in two years, with prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket giving the VP roughly a 50% shot at earning the nomination. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has the second-best odds at 15-17% on each site.

Cruz, meanwhile, is getting a 2% shot to be the nominee — which puts him below Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and Tucker Carlson… even after Carlson declared he was ditching the Republican Party.

Still, Cruz hasn’t been shy about his desire to be “part of the discussion” for ’28, as he told MS NOW in August. He also said he wasn’t convinced Vance already had the nomination locked up.

Cruz isn’t up for reelection this year, but he has been on the campaign trail stumping for Republicans. He has also been making the media rounds lately as he promotes his new book on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!