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Looking ahead, it's looking red. Well, that's according to Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk, who, unsurprisingly, is backing another win for the Republican Party in 2028.
Following President Donald Trump first stepping into the White House in 2017, the former real estate mogul was bested by Joe Biden in the 2020 Presidential Election, then returned in 2025 when he beat Kamala Harris.
Even though the 22nd Amendment states that a president can only serve for two terms, there's been wild speculation that Donald Trump could change the Constitution and join Franklin D. Roosevelt for an unprecedented third term.
Although it’s unclear whether Trump's bizarre AI tease of running in 2028 is serious, Erika Kirk has placed her chips on a different candidate.
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Despite Trump claiming he's as fit as a fiddle, the fact that he's already the oldest president to ever be inaugurated means many are unsure if he'd be able to run even if he somehow managed to change the Constitution.
Names like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Kentucky's Rand Paul, and Nebraska's Don Bacon have all expressed an interest. That comes alongside Trump's own son, Eric, wanting to follow in daddy's footsteps, and what about Vice President JD Vance?
While the POTUS has previously mentioned Vance as a potential successor, the latter said he doesn't feel 'entitled' to a presidential run in 2028.
Still, a November 2025 interview with Fox again saw the VP mull over the idea of stepping up, saying: "I would say that I’ve thought about what that moment might look like after the midterm elections, sure."
One person who definitely has Vance's support is Erika Kirk, with the widowed wife of Charlie Kirk backing him at this year's AmericaFest. The sold-out conference took place in Phoenix, Arizona, and hit headlines with everything from faulty iPads to infighting from the MAGA movement, Nicki Minaj going full Republican, and Kirk highlighting her next choice for POTUS.
This wouldn't be the first time she and Vance have been mentioned in the same sentence, with the rumor mill going into overdrive after the pair were accused of having an 'inappropriate' hug.
As well as chewing the fat with Minaj – and the awkward moment where the rapper called Vance an 'assassin' – Kirk spoke out about the next election and gushed: "We are going to get my husband’s friend JD Vance elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible."
It's important to note that Turning Point USA and the work of Charlie Kirk were said to be key in helping Trump secure votes, especially in the younger male category. AmericaFest looks like it's got the wagon rolling early ahead of the next election, and with Kirk saying member numbers have skyrocketed since her husband's murder, it could prove crucial in helping pave the way for someone like Vance into the Oval Office.
Of course, Vance likely won't be everyone's first choice, with AmericaFest showing some major fractures in the Republican movement. As Ben Shapiro took aim at media rivals, including Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Steve Bannon, Kirk herself seemed to mock Owens over her conspiracy theories.
In the words of Kirk: “You won't agree with everyone on this stage this weekend. And that's okay. Welcome to America."
Referring to "bridges being burned that shouldn't be burnt," it's clear that Kirk thinks Vance is the repairman the USA needs in the White House.
