Vance Comments On Potential Ocasio-Cortez Presidency: ‘Stuff of Nightmares’

During a Friday interview on Fox News, Vice President JD Vance addressed speculation about the 2028 election, offered a sharp jab at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and reaffirmed President Donald Trump’s central role in shaping the national political debate—even among Democrats.

Speaking with Special Report anchor Bret Baier, Vance was asked about recent sightings of “Trump 2028” hats at the White House and whether they signaled a third campaign for President Trump. Vance joked about a conversation he had with the president just days earlier.

“I was in the Oval Office, and there were some Trump 2028 hats floating around. I put one on and said, ‘Mr. President, if you took a photo of this, it would go super viral,’” Vance recalled with a smile.

He emphasized that the current focus is on delivering results during Trump’s second term:

“What I have said, Bret, is, I think the president and I are going to be working together for years to come. We have a rare opportunity over these next three years to undo a lot of the damage—not just from the Biden administration, but from 40 years of failed policy—and actually build a true American renaissance.”

Pressed again on whether Trump was serious about running in 2028, Vance deflected:

“I’ll let the president speak to his political future,” he said, adding, “He loves to have a good time with the American media.”

Baier then pivoted to the Democratic Party, asking Vance whether Ocasio-Cortez was becoming its new face. The vice president didn’t hold back:

“President AOC, the stuff of nightmares, Bret. Thank you—you’ve ruined my sleep for this evening,” he joked.

Asked who he believed truly led the Democrats, Vance offered a striking take:

“Honestly, I think to the extent the Democrats have a leader, Donald J. Trump is the leader of the Democratic Party,” he said.
“Because they’re just against everything that he does.”

The interview came just before the weekend, when a different viral moment involving Vance stirred controversy: President Trump shared an AI-generated image of the vice president wearing papal robes, playfully suggesting him as the next pope.

The satirical post drew backlash from anti-Trump critics, including former Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol, who posted on X, “Hey, @JDVance, you fine with this disrespect and mocking of the Holy Father?”

Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, responded bluntly:

“As a general rule, I’m fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars that kill thousands of my countrymen,” he wrote—referring to Kristol’s long-standing support for the 2003 Iraq War as a top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney.