Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) isn’t launching a presidential campaign — at least not yet. But if the field fills up with “goobers,” don’t count him out.
During an appearance on Wednesday on NewsNation’s “Katie Pavlich Tonight,” he was asked whether his recent trip to New Hampshire meant anything for 2028. His answer was vintage Kennedy: blunt and noncommittal. [Begin watching at 3:01 in the video below]
WATCH: @SenJohnKennedy joins Katie to discuss a potential run for president in 2028, D.C.’s ability to govern itself, who’s leading Democrats into the midterms, and his beloved elliptical named Margaret. pic.twitter.com/nhjS2WXqoG
— Katie Pavlich Tonight (@KatiePavlichNN) June 17, 2026
Kennedy said he was in New Hampshire to support former Sen. John Sununu, and spoke at the “Politics and Eggs” forum, where the crowd wasted no time pressing him on the presidential race.
I said, look, I’m focused on the midterms. I’m planning on running for the United States Senate, but if you’re asking me, what if a lot of people enter the field, and I think they’re goobers, and I think I can do a better job, would I consider running? And I said, well, sure.
Kennedy noted that donors have encouraged him to think bigger, but stressed his focus is on Senate reelection.
Then came the line that made everyone sit up.
I mean, I’ve had some people talk to me about that. Doesn’t mean I’m going to do it. But remember that song by the Judds, ‘Why Not Me?’
Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are widely seen as early frontrunners, but the 2028 field is far from settled, and Kennedy, with his national profile and loyal conservative following, clearly knows it.
But 2028 was just the opening act for his comments.
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Kennedy was also asked about D.C.’s mayoral election, with Democratic Socialist Janice Lewis George in the running. Trump had already threatened federal intervention if D.C. went hard left, and during the interview, Kennedy backed him up.
There are two main candidates, as best I can tell. One is a normal person, one is a crazy person. I hope the normal person wins, though I believe in democracy, and if the people elect the crazy person, they’re entitled to do that, but Congress and the president, the federal government has certain jurisdiction over D.C., and we’re not going to let the crazy person do crazy stuff if the crazy person wins.
He also flatly rejected D.C. statehood.
I wouldn’t support it. I don’t think our founders intended for the District of Columbia to be a state. They meant for it to be neutral territory, if you will.
On the Democrats heading into the midterms, Kennedy didn’t pull any punches.
These folks — they’re socialists. Democratic socialists. They say they don’t believe in revolution, they believe in socialism at the ballot box.
He’s not a hater. He just calls it like he sees it.
My advice to them is that their time would be better spent working at Panda Express and trying to work themselves up to management.
Only Kennedy.
Of course, no Kennedy interview would be complete without a discussion of Margaret.
Sen. Kennedy’s now-famous elliptical, named after Margaret Thatcher, made another TV appearance. He’s on his third one, all bought off Facebook Marketplace, kept under his carport.
Margaret is named after Margaret Thatcher because both kick butt and take names.
Then came the most Kennedy line of the whole interview.
I love Margaret like the devil loves sin.
As for 2028, Kennedy says he’s running for the Senate. But if the field fills up with “goobers”? He’s not ruling anything out, and with Kennedy, that’s never just a throwaway line.
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