President Donald Trump addressed the incident in which JD Vance was “lifted” from his chair while reflecting on the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner last month.
Trump was meeting with officials and members of the media when a man alleged to be the attacker—identified by law enforcement sources as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California—reportedly rushed past a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton. Authorities say he was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and several knives.
Secret Service agents moved Trump and other top officials out of the area within moments. Vance was among those evacuated, with agents pulling him up from his seat and moving him to safety.
During remarks in the White House Rose Garden this week, Trump expressed appreciation for the agents’ response and credited them for how quickly the situation was handled.
“I thought you did a great job two weeks ago. You know why? Because I’m here,” he said.
He then recounted watching agents remove Vance from his chair, joking that he wondered why he wasn’t moved quite as quickly.
“But I will be the one to find fault if I think there was fault,” he added. “They had great professional people, and they came out, and within seconds, I saw them take JD by the shoulders and lift him up like he was a little boy.
“I said, ‘How come they didn’t lift me up so fast?’ JD got ripped out of the chair, that was the view of the week.”
Trump also turned to the topic of 2028 and floated the idea that either Vance or Marco Rubio could emerge as the next standard-bearer, noting both appear to have strong support.
“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” Trump asked.
“Is it gonna be JD? Is it gonna be someone else? I don’t know.”
He went on to describe the pairing as a potentially strong ticket, though he added a caveat about formal backing.
“By the way, I do believe that’s a dream team, but these are minor details.
“That does not mean you have my endorsement under any circumstance. But you know… I think it sounds like presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate.”
Trump did not specify which of the two he believed fit best at the top of the ticket versus the second spot.
It also remains uncertain whether Rubio would pursue a run, particularly after he told Vanity Fair last year: “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.”
Separately, Trump has continued to reference the notion of a third term, telling TIME last year: “I’d rather not discuss that now, but as you know, there are some loopholes that have been discussed that are well known. But I don’t believe in loopholes. I don’t believe in using loopholes.”