President Donald Trump said Monday he would not consider running for vice president in the 2028 election — an idea floated by some supporters as a possible way for him to serve a third term in the White House.
Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One during his flight from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo, Trump acknowledged that such a move would technically be “allowed,” but dismissed it as “too cute.”
“I wouldn’t do that. I think it’s too cute. The people wouldn’t like that … it wouldn’t be right,” Trump said.
The 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution bars anyone from being elected president more than twice. Some legal theorists and Trump allies have suggested an unorthodox loophole: running as vice president alongside another Republican who could later resign, allowing Trump to reclaim the presidency. Constitutional scholars, however, have widely disputed the legality of such a maneuver.
Despite ruling out the vice presidency, Trump again hinted at his desire for a third term, saying,
“I would love to do it. I have my best numbers ever.”
When pressed on whether he was ruling out another run entirely, Trump replied ambiguously:
“Am I not ruling it out? You’ll have to tell me.”
He went on to praise potential successors, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling them “great people” who could lead the party in the future.
“If they ever formed a group, it’d be unstoppable,” Trump added.
Trump’s comments came as he continued his five-day trip through Asia, which includes stops in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, where he plans to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to finalize a potential trade truce.
The president also said he hoped to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un again soon and expressed optimism about reaching new trade and critical minerals agreements with several Southeast Asian nations.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, meanwhile, hinted in a weekend interview that she is considering another presidential run in 2028, setting the stage for a potential rematch.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for President Xi, and I think we’re going to come away with a deal,” Trump said before landing in Tokyo.
