Donald Trump stopped short of giving JD Vance his outright backing for the 2028 presidential election on Tuesday, with the vice president standing right behind him.

During an Oval Office event announcing a new whistleblower reward program, a reporter asked Trump: “Since we have the vice president here, the vice president said in an interview yesterday that he thought that you would endorse him if he does decide to run in 2028. Since we’re here, could you tell us…”

The question referred to Vance’s interview with journalist Mark Halperin, in which the vice president said he believed Trump would endorse him if he ran in 2028, although perhaps not immediately. Vance, the current frontrunner in polling on the GOP nomination, also told Halperin the pair had not discussed the subject.

Trump interrupted the reporter before he finished the question.

“Well, I tell you this, he’s a very talented person, and he’s a very good person, but we’ve, literally, I don’t think we’ve ever talked about it,” the president said of Vance.

“No, sir, I said that too,” Vance chimed in.

“You know, who would believe that? I don’t talk about it with him; he doesn’t talk about it…” Trump continued, as Vance nodded behind him.

“It’s early, very early right now; we have to get through the midterms, see how it goes,” Trump added.

The president then pivoted to talking about his recent campaign rallies, boasting about the impact he claims his appearances have had before acknowledging: “It’s not easy to stand up there for two hours ranting, raving. You have the crowds, but there’s a lot of love in those rooms.”