On June 16, Vice President JD Vance will release his second book, titled Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith.

The focus of this memoir is, as the title states, Vance’s rediscovery of his Christian faith. The 41-year-old vice president’s faith journey runs from evangelical to atheist to Roman Catholic. “A critical part of that journey was falling in love with a girl who would eventually become a mother four times over,” Vance explained. “Fundamentally, the book wouldn’t exist without her. I talk about this in the book. There is a certain irony to it because she is not herself a Christian. But I certainly, I don’t think, would be a Christian today were it not for my wife.”

That is an intriguing and confusing admission. Yet even more interesting is Vance’s view on his desire for his wife, Usha, a Hindu, to become a Christian, while acknowledging that her conversion seems unlikely. “And I’m OK with that,” he conceded. “What I’d say about Usha is that one of the things I love about her is that she’s brilliant, but she’s also fiercely independent. … You know, fundamentally, Christianity is a faith where, if you believe in it, you would like other people to believe in it, too, and that’s going to be particularly true for those that you’re closest to and those you love.”

True, but it is also a devastatingly difficult reality to see those we love reject the good news of the Gospel.

But Vance’s second book, while certainly expected to be another bestseller, is more than just him sharing more of his life story. This is Vance also positioning himself for the 2028 presidential run.

There’s little question that Vance is President Donald Trump’s handpicked heir apparent. Indeed, with Trump’s blessing, Vance is likely a shoo-in for the Republican nomination, even as the increasingly impressive and popular Secretary of State Marco Rubio stokes interest.

Some may even read Vance’s release of a second memoir and his efforts to maintain his presence and relevance on the political scene as attempts to counter Rubio’s rising star. Yet Rubio himself has made it plain that he has no intention of running against Vance. And while Trump has at times teased a competition between the two, Vance remains his man. And if anything, Trump is proving during these midterm primaries that he is the party’s kingmaker.

Vance also has a high-profile role in the administration, heading the fraud task force. In a political sense, this keeps him viable as more than merely Trump’s backup should something happen.

From a broader perspective, this book differentiates Vance from Trump without alienating the veep from the president’s policy agenda or the MAGA base. Trump is not particularly religious, as he has repeatedly admitted. Vance, on the other hand, has leaned into his Christian faith.

Vance also recognizes that one of the vital fundamental elements of our nation’s historic identity and its polity is our Judeo-Christian value system. To put it pointedly, America was founded by Christians, for Christians.

Yet there are political pundits who may like much of what Vance presents but are also concerned that he’s still young and lacks Rubio’s political experience. They would prefer to see him wait for a “better” time, say 2032 or 2036, to make a serious run, giving him time to effectively differentiate himself from Trump.

In an ideal scenario, that does sound inviting, especially given just how impressive Rubio is. But politics is never played out in an ideal world. Indeed, those who choose to wait for a better opportunity often miss the moment.

For Vance, the moment is 2028, and it appears he sees it that way and is more than willing to grab the bull by the horns. Even if he fails to win in 2028, that does not necessarily preclude him from future opportunities. Look at both Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan as examples.

Like both of those former presidents, Vance is a gifted communicator. He’s learned toughness from Trump, but he’s also learned the value of the gentle jab. By the time 2028 rolls around, the nation will likely be utterly weary of Trump’s bomb throwing, wanting a return to a more civil style of discourse, yet with the same determined and fighting spirit that has marked Trump.

A lot will happen over the next couple of years — a political eternity — but it’s pretty clear that Vance has set his sights on the White House come 2028.