Vice President JD Vance said in an interview that President Donald Trump is in “incredibly good health,” while also noting that he is prepared to take on the role of commander-in-chief if circumstances ever required it.
“Yes, terrible tragedies happen,” Vance told USA Today when asked about the possibility of replacing Trump. “But I feel very confident the president of the United States is in good shape, is going to serve out the remainder of his term and do great things for the American people. And if, God forbid, there’s a terrible tragedy, I can’t think of better on-the-job training than what I’ve gotten over the last 200 days.”
Trump, who turned 79 in June, became the oldest person sworn in as president in January. The White House announced in July that he had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition among older adults affecting the veins.
White House physician Sean Barbabella stated in a memo that Trump also experienced bruising on his hands “consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking,” describing it as “benign and common.”
“The president is in incredibly good health,” Vance reiterated, adding that Trump is “the last person making phone calls at night, and he’s the first person who wakes up and the first person making phone calls in the morning.”
In addition to concerns over his age and health, Trump was the target of two assassination attempts last year. In July 2024, he was shot through the ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, by a gunman on a rooftop. Two months later, Secret Service officials intercepted a man with a rifle near Trump’s Florida golf course. The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, was later indicted on attempted assassination charges.
Reflecting on his early experiences as vice president, Vance recalled his first time entering the Oval Office. “It was an amazing thing. I was overwhelmed by the grandeur of the office, all of the incredible history that had been made,” he said. “But if I was being honest, it was the middle of winter, the drapes were closed. It was very dark. It had kind of a dark and gloomy feeling. This is the workplace of the leader of the free world. It should be a little brighter. I like what the president has done to it.”
Earlier this month, Trump suggested to reporters that Vance would “most likely” be his successor if he chooses to run in 2028, saying he would “probably be favored at this point.” Trump also mentioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio, hinting that he could “maybe get together with JD in some form,” while praising other “incredible people” within the party.
