Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin has told President-elect Donald Trump he will serve out the rest of his term as governor and will not take a role in Trump’s administration, the Virginia outlet 12 On Your Side WWBT Richmond reported Thursday afternoon. In the interview, the Republican governor did not rule out serving in the administration after his term ends in January 2026.
“We’ve been working closely over the course of this entire campaign, and I am so excited that his hard work paid off, and he knows that I am committed and will continue to serve as governor through my full term, and that is so important,” Youngkin said. “I’m only hired for one term — one four years — and, and when I spoke to him about this, he was very supportive of me finishing the job that I’ve committed to.”
Youngkin has long said he is committed to serving out his term. “My future is going to be defined,” he told National Review magazine earlier this year, “by continuing to stay focused on being the best governor I could possibly be.” He met Trump in person for the first time in June and rallied onstage with him for the first time a few days later when the former president made a stop in Chesapeake, Va.
Regarding his next steps, Youngkin dismisses in private the idea of running for U.S. Senate, those close to him say. He’s long been touted as a strong pick for a second Trump administration, and it’s possible he may serve in the administration after his term is up. It’s also possible Youngkin will run for president in 2028. As NR reported earlier this year, he seems content taking the next few years for what they are before making any commitments to seeking higher office once his term is up.
“The governor and first lady are people of faith,” a person familiar with Youngkin’s thinking told NR earlier this year. “If they feel called to do something, they’re not looking to ride off into the sunset. . . . If there’s a group of people that think he should serve in some other way in the future, he’s going to listen. But he’s also just not the kind of guy that is willing to step out there and audition and go seek this out. He’s going to have to be talked into this.”
This post has been updated.