Trump does not rule out seeking third term
US President Donald Trump has not ruled out running for a third term in the White House, saying he “would love to do it”.
But Trump has rejected the possibility of running for vice president in 2028 — an idea floated by some supporters as a way for him to circumvent the U.S. Constitution that prohibits the president from seeking a third term.
Speaking to reporters during his trip to Asia, Trump called the idea “so cute” and said it “wouldn’t be good.”
It is unclear what method he would use to run again. Last week, former Trump strategist Steve Bannon said a “plan” was in place to secure another term for the 79-year-old president.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew to Japan from Malaysia, Trump said that while he would be “allowed” to run again for vice president, he had no plans to do so.
“I don’t think people would like that,” he said. “That’s so cute. That wouldn’t be right.”
On the possibility of a third term, Trump said: “I haven’t really thought about it. But I have the best poll numbers I’ve ever had.”
Additionally, Trump also suggested Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as potential successors, calling them “unstoppable.”
“All I can tell you is we have a great group of people, which we don’t,” he added, referring to Democrats.
The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits presidents from seeking a third term.
Repealing the amendment would require approval by two-thirds of the House of Representatives and the Senate, or a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of the state legislatures – a process considered highly unlikely.
Last week, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon – who remains a staunch supporter – claimed there was a “plan” to secure a third term for Trump.
“Trump will be president in 2028, and people should live with that,” Bannon told The Economist. “When the time comes, we will expose the plan.”
In March, Trump told CNBC that he would “probably not” run again, although he later said he was “not joking” about the possibility.
It remains unclear which Democrats intend to run for the White House in 2028, although several have already expressed interest.
California Governor Gavin Newsom told CBS, the BBC’s US partner, on Sunday that he would “be lying” if it said he was not seriously considering a presidential bid.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris also told the BBC that she might run again and could “possibly” be president in the future.
