- Trump says he would “love” a third term but calls a VP run “too cute”
- Ex-adviser Steve Bannon claims a “plan” exists for Trump’s 2028 comeback
- Trump praises JD Vance and Marco Rubio as “unstoppable” successors
US President Donald Trump has not ruled out the possibility of seeking a third term in the White House, saying he would “love to do it.”
However, Trump dismissed suggestions from some supporters that he could run as vice-president in 2028 as a way to bypass the US Constitution, which prohibits presidents from serving more than two terms.
Speaking to reporters during his trip to Asia, Trump called the idea “too cute” and said it “wouldn’t be right.”
It remains unclear how Trump might pursue another run. Last week, his former strategist Steve Bannon claimed that a “plan” existed to secure a third term for the 79-year-old president.
During a press briefing aboard Air Force One en route from Malaysia to Japan, Trump acknowledged that he could “technically” run as vice-president but had no intention of doing so.
“I think people wouldn’t like that,” he said. “It’s too cute. It wouldn’t be right.”
When asked about the possibility of a third term, Trump said: “I haven’t really thought about it. But I have the best poll numbers that I’ve ever had.”
He also mentioned Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as potential successors, calling them “unstoppable.”
“All I can tell you is that we have a great group of people — which they don’t,” he added, referring to Democrats.
The 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution prevents any president from serving more than two terms. Repealing it would require approval from two-thirds of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures — a scenario widely considered improbable. The amendment would then need ratification from 38 states to take effect.
Bannon, still a vocal supporter of Trump, told The Economist last week: “Trump is going to be president in ’28, and people ought to just get accommodated with that. At the appropriate time, we’ll lay out what the plan is.”
In March, Trump told CNBC he would “probably not” run again, though he later clarified that he was “not joking” about the idea.
It remains uncertain which Democrats will enter the 2028 race, though several have signaled interest. California Governor Gavin Newsom told CBS he would “be lying” if he said he wasn’t seriously considering a presidential bid. Former Vice President Kamala Harris also told the BBC she may run again, saying she could “possibly” be president in the future.
