JD Vance has just taken a step closer to the White House after making an overlooked "political power move", a top Republican has claimed.

Ronna McDaniel, who was RNC chair for seven years until 2024, said her "money would be on" the Vice President becoming the Grand Old Party's next nominee after his surprise decision.

Speaking to Sky News after Vance was appointed as finance chair of the Republican National Committee, McDaniel said the Vice President's move reflects a "political awareness and ambition" and that he would get to know the workings of the GOP going forward.

McDaniel said: "Understanding that process, which is boring and very technical, and most people don't understand how the RNC works, that was a huge move this week for JD to take over as finance chair."

JD Vance speaks at the US military's Pituffik Space Base in Greenland

Ronna McDaniel, former chairwoman of the Republican National Committee (RNC)

She explained that it was the first time a sitting vice president has served as finance chair, and that he would be interacting with all the biggest investors in the party heading into the 2028 Presidential Election.

McDaniel continued: "JD will have access to every single RNC member and Republican National Committee state chair who will be making those governing rules. That shows you, the power that he has right now."

It comes after President Donald Trump said he is "not joking" about a potential third term, adding that there are "potential methods which you can do it".

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said: "I don’t want to talk about a third term now because no matter how you look at it, we’ve got a long time to go."

JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance tour the US military's Pituffik Space Base in Greenland

McDaniel's comments about Vance also came after the Vice President accused Denmark of not doing a good job keeping Greenland safe and suggested the United States would better protect the Arctic territory.

During a visit last week to the US military base at Pituffik in the north of the island, he said Washington has no immediate plans to expand its military presence on the ground but will invest in resources including additional naval ships.

However, President Donald Trump has frequently said that the United States has a security imperative to acquire the island, which has been controlled by Denmark since 1721.

Vance said Russia, China and other nations are taking an "extraordinary interest" in Arctic passageways, naval routes and minerals in the region.

Leader of the political party Demokraatit and incoming Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen

The Vice President said: "I think that [Greenland] would ultimately will partner with the United States...We can make them much more secure. We could do a lot more protection. And I think they’d fare a lot better economically as well."

Greenland's new Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said the US visit signalled a "lack of respect," while Danish leaders expressed their commitment to Greenland.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said: "For many years we have stood side by side with the Americans under very difficult circumstances. Therefore the vice president's description of Denmark is not a fair one."

Meanwhile, Trump told reporters at the White House the US needs Greenland to ensure the "peace of the entire world" adding: "We need Greenland, very importantly, for international security. We have to have Greenland. It's not a question of, 'Do you think we can do without it?' We can't."