In the bustling city of Nashville, Tennessee, inside the luxurious Four Seasons hotel’s first floor, the scene was nothing short of remarkable. A line of wealthy conservative donors meandered its way around the floor, each individual eagerly anticipating their turn to ascend the hotel’s elevator. The reason for their excitement? An opportunity to listen to the vice president of the United States’ speech. As the special guest for the evening, the vice president was the principal attraction at the spring summit of the Rockbridge Network.
JD Vance, the co-founder of the Rockbridge Network, was the main speaker at the gathering that was held behind closed doors. Vance, who established the group in 2019 during his tenure as a private investor, headlined the event. According to an attendee present at the venue, the gathering saw a crowd of approximately 250 members from the donor community. The price tag for admission to the event was steep, with an entry fee of at least $100,000 per person.
Vance’s speech revolved around his role as the leader of President Trump’s new anti-fraud task force. He also emphasized the rapidly approaching 2026 midterm elections, discussing the challenge that the Republicans face in maintaining their control over both chambers of Congress. This information was relayed to CBS News by a source who was present in the room during Vance’s speech.
The vice president’s presence at the Rockbridge conference coincided with wealthy Republicans steeling themselves for a predicted blue wave in the midterm elections. Political groups associated with Mr. Trump are likely to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in the coming eight months.
However, the event also had an undercurrent of speculation about a different election – the 2028 presidential contest. In the last weekend’s Conservative Political Action Conference, 53% of survey respondents stated that Vance was their preferred candidate for the 2028 Republican primary. Secretary of State Marco Rubio trailed Vance, securing 35% support in the CPAC survey, emerging as the second most preferred candidate.
A conservative venture capitalist, who was granted anonymity to discuss Rockbridge, said that the Rockbridge members are “the people that will be rallying around JD, and they want to back JD.” A spokesperson for Vance did not respond to requests for comment.
The source who was present during Vance’s speech stated that he did not mention the 2028 presidential race “at all.” The source also added, “It obviously wouldn’t be too smart to do that.”
The week in Nashville saw a subtle fusion of business and politics. Earlier in the day, Vance attended a Republican fundraising event in the city, as per an individual familiar with the matter. Following that, Vance attended the Rockbridge event, where he interacted with business tycoons and megadonors that could potentially play a crucial role in supporting Vance if he decides to run in the 2028 elections.
Notable attendees at the event included billionaire heiress Rebekah Mercer and Donald Trump Jr.’s business partner, Omeed Malik, a close ally of Vance. Malik and Trump Jr. are leading figures at 1789 Capital, an “anti-woke” investment firm co-founded by Mercer.
Chris Buskirk, who co-founded Rockbridge with Vance, also played a role in the launch of 1789 Capital. Federal Election Commission filings revealed that Make America Great Again Inc., the primary pro-Trump super PAC, has paid over $100,000 since last June for “strategic political consulting” to Thumos Strategy, a company that lists its address as Buskirk’s residence in Arizona.
Vance seems to be the common thread linking these different interests. “There is a Venn diagram where Rockbridge and 1789 meet, and they want JD to be the heir apparent,” another conservative investor told CBS News.
Chris LaCivita, a veteran Republican strategist who served as a senior advisor to Mr. Trump’s 2024 campaign, was spotted at the Rockbridge conference. He was seen mingling with Mercer, a major Trump donor, and later participated in a panel discussion about the midterm elections.
The arrival of Vance at the summit was followed by the appearance of MAGA country star Kid Rock at the Four Seasons. Other notable individuals present included Josh Gruenbaum, a senior White House official who has worked on Middle East diplomacy alongside Jared Kushner and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff; Brazilian entrepreneur Tallis Gomes; and venture capitalist and former Republican U.S. Senate candidate from Arizona, Blake Masters.
In conclusion, the Rockbridge Network’s spring summit proved to be a significant event, blending politics and business and hinting at possible future developments in the 2028 presidential race. With Vance’s remarks focusing on his role leading President Trump’s new anti-fraud task force and the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, the event indeed offered a glimpse into the future trajectory of American politics.
