Trump appeared to rule out the idea of pursuing a third term through a possible scenario in which Vice President JD Vance would run for office and if elected hand over power to Trump as his vice president.
“I think the people wouldn’t like that,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One en route from Malaysia to Japan. “It’s too cute. It’s not, it wouldn’t be right.”
The president said there are “good people” who could run in 2028 instead. He namechecked two prominent members of his Cabinet, calling them virtually unbeatable if they were to pursue a ticket together.
“Obviously the vice president is great. Marco is great,” Trump said, referring to his secretary of state. “I’m not sure if anybody would run against those. So I think if they performed [as] a group it would be unstoppable.”
Trump has previously acknowledged that such a scenario — with Vance running and then ceding power — is one way in which he could return to office in 2028.
Steve Bannon, a close Trump ally, recently floated the idea publicly, saying he believes Trump will “run and win again in 2028.”
