President Trump on Monday dismissed speculation about a constitutional workaround that would allow him to serve a third term as vice president under JD Vance, calling the scheme “too cute” and saying “the people wouldn’t like that.”
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Tokyo, the 79-year-old president addressed claims made by his former chief strategist Steve Bannon about a secret plan to circumvent the 22nd Amendment’s two-term limit.
Bannon had told the Economist that Trump would secure a third term and that “at the appropriate time, we’ll lay out what the plan is.”
The most widely discussed scenario involved Trump running as Vance’s vice president, then having Vance resign to allow Trump to assume the presidency.
Trump firmly rejected that approach during the flight to meetings with Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
“It wouldn’t be right,” he stated plainly.
Despite ruling out the VP swap, Trump continued to signal interest in another presidential campaign.
He referenced his current approval rating of 45.1 percent according to the RealClearPolitics average of recent polls.
“I would love to do it. I have my best numbers ever, it’s very terrible, I have my best numbers,” Trump said.
The president has repeatedly hinted at a 2028 candidacy, a move political observers have interpreted as both a way to maintain political influence and avoid lame-duck status.
Trump has even distributed “Trump 2028” campaign hats to White House guests.
Trump floated the possibility of facing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) in a future presidential race.
He criticized both Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) as “low IQ” individuals.
“Let AOC go against Trump. Let Jasmine go against Trump,” he said, referencing cognitive exams he took at Walter Reed medical center.
The president also praised potential 2028 Republican tickets that would not include himself.
He said Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be “unstoppable” if they ran together.
Trump’s comments on Monday follow a pattern of mixed signals about his 2028 intentions.
He told CNBC in August he would “probably not” seek a third term. However, he told NBC in March he was “not joking” about running again.
The New York Post reported that during the Air Force One conversation with reporters, Trump revealed he had undergone an MRI scan during his annual physical earlier this month.
He declined to provide specifics about why the scan was performed.
“It was perfect,” Trump said of the MRI results.
The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution states that no person shall be “elected” to the office of president more than twice.
Trump won his first term in 2016 and his second in 2024.
Trump will be 82 years old when his current term ends in January 2029.
If he were to win a hypothetical third term and serve it fully, he would be 86 years old in 2033.
The president’s remarks came as he traveled to Tokyo for diplomatic meetings with Japanese leadership.
The trip marks a continuation of his administration’s engagement with key Pacific allies.
