Exclusive | Brian Kilmeade explains why Democrats will make a deal with Trump — and what under-the-radar Republicans could run in 2028

Democrats, weary of the political beating they’ve taken over border security, will come to President Trump looking to make a deal on immigration reform, longtime “Fox & Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade argued on “Pod Force One,” where he also floated several under-the-radar Republicans who could run in 2028. 

Kilmeade noted that Trump’s sweeping executive actions to secure the US-Mexico border could be undone if a Democrat takes the White House, which puts pressure on the president as well to broker an agreement. 

“We’re all gonna get whiplash, and it’s not good for anybody,” the Fox News personality told “Pod Force One” host Miranda Devine.  

“So I really do think the president’s under pressure to … do a deal,” Kilmeade argued.

“I think the Democrats don’t want to deal with the border anymore,” he continued. “They know it’s a loser for them … I think they’re going to tell the president, ‘You got the border. We’re going to need something for people here.’” 

Kilmeade believes some sort of legal status for migrants who entered the country as children and migrants who have been in the US for an extended period of time and haven’t committed a crime may receive bipartisan support in the Democrat-controlled Congress next year. 

“There’s things that can be worked out where Republicans gonna have to bite their lip and Democrats gonna have to bite their lip,” he added, referring to the concessions both sides will have to make as part of an immigration reform deal.

The Fox News host suggested mandatory voter ID laws for Americans and “no citizenship” for illegal migrants may be something Democrats may have to give up as part of their dealings with Republicans and Trump.

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“But the Democrats want it away,” Kilmeade continued. “They don’t wanna talk about it because it’s almost like, for them, it’s almost like men and women’s sports: They can’t win. So they want that issue to go away.”  

Later in the interview, Kilmeade was asked about potential 2028 GOP presidential candidates – and he floated several candidates who could go up against the likes of Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. 

“Josh Hawley’s gonna be out there,” he said of the Missouri Republican senator. “I think that’s gonna be pretty clear.” 

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“Tom Cotton, I think his kids are too young, but I wouldn’t say he’s not gonna do it,” he said, referring to the GOP senator from Arkansas. 

And a potential candidate for Republicans “sick of” Trump could be outgoing Georgia GOP Gov. Brian Kemp, Kilmeade said.

Kemp has “a great track record, and if people feel as though they wanna turn the page on MAGA — I think you could honestly say he wasn’t anti-MAGA, but him and Trump didn’t get along — so that might be enough distance, because people tend to get sick of the person in power after two terms,” Kilmeade said.  

“There could be somebody who comes out of nowhere too, like Donald Trump did,” he continued. “Is there anyone from the business world that wants to jump in? You know, I think [Robert F. Kennedy Jr.] is still thinking about it.” 

Trump administration insiders believe RFK Jr.’s ultimate “goal” is to be president, and that if he runs again, it would be as a Republican, Kilmeade explained. 

“He’s already took the slings and arrows and background checks from his family … what else can they throw at the guy?” he continued. 

“He’s certainly got the leadership and the charisma,” Kilmeade said of the former Democrat and Trump’s head of the Department of Health and Human Services. 

The “Fox & Friends” co-host also mentioned Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) as lawmakers who might not be ready to run for president in 2028 but could be eyeing the White House in later cycles.