Former Vice President Mike Pence is raising eyebrows after suggesting he could make another run for the White House in 2028, despite his failed presidential campaign and years of political clashes with President Donald Trump.
Pence reportedly floated the possibility during an interview with Fox News Digital, revealing that he has received encouragement from Americans about another presidential bid.
“We’ve been hearing from a lot of people around the country. I’ve been very humbled by that… this version of Republicanism was just rejected by the American people.”
The remarks quickly attracted attention from prominent conservatives, including former Trump adviser Steve Cortes, who made his opposition clear.
In a post on X, Cortes dismissed the possibility of another Pence campaign.
“Hard pass. Surrender Mike Pence says he’s considering a run for President in 2028:”
The exchange comes as Republicans begin weighing their options for the next presidential election following the party’s disappointing performance in the 2026 midterms.
Pence, who served as Trump’s vice president from 2017 to 2021, has remained a divisive figure among Republicans since their public falling-out over the 2020 election.
Hard pass. Surrender Mike Pence says he’s considering a run for President in 2028:
“We’ve been hearing from a lot of people around the country. I’ve been very humbled by that… this version of Republicanism was just rejected by the American people.” https://t.co/kXjO8KrQWV
— Steve Cortes (@SteveCortes) November 12, 2026
The former Indiana governor refused to reject electoral votes during the congressional certification of Joe Biden’s victory, a decision that permanently damaged his relationship with Trump and alienated many of the president’s supporters.
Pence later attempted to challenge his former running mate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.
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But his campaign struggled to gain momentum as Donald Trump maintained overwhelming support among Republican primary voters.
Pence ultimately suspended his campaign in October 2023, months before the first votes were cast in the GOP primaries.
Trump went on to secure the nomination and defeat then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the general election.
Since leaving office, Pence has continued advocating for traditional conservative policies through his organization, Advancing American Freedom.
He has also criticized elements of Trump’s America First agenda, particularly the party’s shift toward economic populism and its approach to federal spending.
Those disagreements have kept Pence at odds with influential figures in the MAGA movement, including conservatives who believe the Republican Party should remain committed to Trump’s political priorities.
His latest comments arrive as Republicans confront a difficult political landscape following Democratic victories in the midterm elections.
The party is also beginning to consider potential successors to Trump, who is constitutionally barred from seeking another elected presidential term.
Vice President JD Vance has attracted considerable attention as a possible 2028 contender, while other prominent Republicans continue weighing their political futures.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley recently announced that she would not seek the Republican nomination in 2028.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has also pushed back against reports that he is actively preparing another presidential campaign.
Pence, meanwhile, has not formally announced a candidacy or outlined a campaign strategy.
His suggestion that Americans have encouraged him to consider running nevertheless raises the possibility of another confrontation between the Republican Party’s traditional conservative establishment and the America First movement.
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