Matt Gaetz Hints At Unlikely Presidential Candidate In 2028

Former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz suggested during a recent interview that a former Trump adviser could be launching a bid for president in 2028.

During an appearance on Tucker Carlson’s podcast, Gaetz predicted that Steve Bannon would run for president in 2028. The former congressmen described Bannon’s potential platform as a populist “wealth tax economic agenda,” with an emphasis on domestic affairs.

“Just like the… and I love Steve Bannon, so I don’t want like my our last discussion to come across as a criticism of Steve but I mean he’s going to run for president on the on just a straight, Elizabeth Warren wealth tax economic agenda.”

Gaetz added that he was skeptical of such a platform. “Take the money from those people who have way too much of it, the Bill Ackman’s of the world, and I wanna give it to you,” he said.

The longtime Trump ally, who currently hosts his own show on One America News, framed this as part of a broader discussion on economic trends and Trump’s electoral reactions to them. He expressed hope that the GOP would avoid a “policy race to the bottom” with insufficient solutions.

As of December 24, 2025, Steve Bannon has not publicly confirmed any intention to run for president in 2028. The former White House adviser has repeatedly focused on supporting Donald Trump, including endorsing the idea of Trump seeking a third term, which the president has long joked about.

In response to earlier speculation about his own candidacy, Bannon dismissed it with a “Trump 2028”  response back in August.

As of December 2025, the 2028 GOP primary field remains early and speculative, with no formal announcements from major contenders. The race centers on who will inherit the MAGA movement after President Donald Trump’s second term, as he is constitutionally barred from running again.

Vice President JD Vance is the clear frontrunner. Multiple polls show him dominating hypothetical matchups, often with 45-50 percent support among Republicans. For example, recent surveys from AtlasIntel, McLaughlin & Associates, Emerson College Polling, and others place Vance well ahead, with leads ranging from 10-30 points over competitors.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has effectively endorsed Vance’s path forward as well. Rubio has privately told confidants that Vance would be the Republican nominee if he runs, stating: “If JD Vance runs for president, he’s going to be our nominee, and I’ll be one of the first people to support him.”

Rubio has publicly called Vance a “great nominee” and indicated he would not challenge him, with some sources suggesting a potential Vance-Rubio ticket. This aligns with President Trump’s frequent mentions of both as top successors.

The most likely candidates beyond Vance include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump Jr., Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Rand Paul, and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. DeSantis and Trump Jr. typically poll in the low teens or single digits, while Cruz, Paul, and Youngkin maintain solid name recognition and national profiles through their roles in the Trump orbit.

None of these candidates have managed to poll above single digits so far, however.