President Donald Trump on Monday again declined to definitively slap down speculation that he would seek a third term in the Oval Office, while pointing to several leading figures in his administration as prime candidates for the 2028 ticket.
Trump suggested an “unstoppable” ticket could be comprised of Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, echoing thoughts he has floated in the past.
“We have JD, obviously, the vice president, who’s great. Marco’s great. I’m not sure if anyone would run against those two. I think if they ever formed a group, it would be unstoppable,” he told reporters on Air Force One en route to Japan.
Yet, Trump offered a more evasive reply when pressed on former White House adviser Steve Bannon’s plan to have the president assume office for the third time, which would present legal challenges given the ramifications of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.
“I would love to do it,” Trump said when asked about the prospect of a 2028 presidential bid.
“I have my best numbers ever. It’s very terrible. I have my best numbers,” he continued, amid aggregate polling data compiled by the New York Times showing the president’s approval rating at 43%. “I haven’t really thought about it. We have some very good people, as you know…But I have the best poll numbers that I’ve ever had.”
Bannon, who played a key role in galvanizing Trump’s first presidential victory in 2016, told the Economist last week that “at the appropriate time we’ll lay out what the plan is, but there’s a plan and President Trump will be the president in ‘28.”
“This is the age of Trump, and we have to get all the squeeze out of the lemon,” Bannon added. “He’s a vehicle of divine providence. … He’s gonna get a third term. Trump is gonna be president in ‘28 and people ought to just get accommodated with that.”
When questioned on the matter on Monday, Trump demurred, making vague comments similar to multiple other statements he’s given in recent months.
“Am I not ruling it out? You’ll have to tell me,” he said. “All I can tell you is that we have a great, a great group of people, which they don’t,” he added in reference to the Democratic Party as he went on to slam Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Jasmine Crockett (D-TX).
“They have Jasmine Crockett, a low-IQ person. They have AOC, who is low IQ. You give her an IQ test, have her pass the exams that I decided to take when I was at Walter Reed, I took, those are very hard,” Trump added. “Let AOC go against Trump. Let Jasmine go against Trump.”
MAJORITY SAY TRUMP WOULD WIN THIRD TERM IF RULES CHANGED
Trump ruled out another theory that has been floated in which he would run for vice president in 2028, have the president resign to circumvent the 22nd Amendment, and then assume the role of president.
“I’d be allowed to do that,” Trump said. [But] “I guess I think it’s too cute. Yeah, I would rule that out because it’s too cute. I think the people wouldn’t like that. It’s too cute. It’s not — it wouldn’t be right.”