President Donald Trump announced on Monday he will not run for vice president in 2028, declaring the idea “too cute” and saying Americans wouldn’t be happy about it. Some of his base had floated this as a way to see him return to the White House. The plan was for Trump to run as VP, and then the president would resign and Trump would take the job again. But Trump spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One to say that he’s not interested in that strategy.
Trump was returning from Malaysia to Tokyo when he addressed the press regarding his political prospects. Trump stated that the vice president plot wouldn’t be appropriate and that he’s putting it out of the question. Lawyers note that Trump wouldn’t be able to run for VP in the first place because according to the Constitution, whoever can’t be president also can’t be vice president. Trump himself has already been in two terms, so technically he shouldn’t be eligible to be VP either.
President Won’t Firmly Rule Out Third Term
When journalists asked Trump himself if he would consider running for president again in 2028, he refused to answer directly. He indicated that he would love to and stated that his approval ratings are higher than they have ever been. When one journalist pressed him to say if he was eliminating a third term possibility, Trump replied “you’ll have to tell me” rather than answering yes or no.
The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution simply states no one can be elected president twice. Trump is now 79 and would be 82 in 2028 if he were to run again. He would then be the oldest president in U.S. history. Trump never stopped during the 2024 campaign from talking about Joe Biden being too old to lead the nation, every time he tripped over his words or stumbled.
Republican Party Left in Limbo Over Future
Trump intimated that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be fantastic presidential candidates for 2028. He indicated if they joined forces together, they’d be unbeatable. Rubio stood directly behind Trump on the airplane when he made this statement, and the Secretary of State appeared embarrassed and bent his head while smiling.
Trump continues making light of serving more than two terms at his rallies and even sold “Trump 2028” caps to his fans. Several of his close associates are seriously considering this. Steve Bannon, a former Trump White House staffer during his initial term, revealed to The Economist magazine last week that there is indeed a strategy to circumvent the Constitution’s two-term cap. Bannon declared that Trump will be president in 2028 and that people need to just get used to it. He said they’ll outline the plan in due time. The majority of legal experts opine that there isn’t a legal means of sidelining the Constitution’s term limits, but Trump not directly ruling out the possibility keeps speculations alive.
News At Glance
- Trump shut down speculation about running for vice president in 2028, describing the plan as “too cute”
- He would not unequivocally declare he will not run for a third presidential term in spite of Constitutional restrictions
- The 22nd Amendment prohibits any individual from running for president more than twice
- Trump acknowledged VP JD Vance and Secretary Marco Rubio as possible 2028 candidates
- Close friend Steve Bannon says there is a scheme to have Trump in the White House again in 2028
FAQs
Q: Is it legal for Trump to run as president again in 2028?
A: No, the Constitution’s 22nd Amendment states nobody can be elected president more than twice. Trump already has served two terms, so it is legally against the law for him to run again.
Q: What was the vice president plan that Trump spurned?
A: Some supporters suggested Trump could run as vice president in 2028. Then the elected president would resign, making Trump president again. Trump called this idea “too cute” and said he wouldn’t do it.
Q: How old would Trump be if he ran in 2028?
A: Trump is 79 years old now. He would be 82 in 2028, which would be the oldest anyone has ever been to run for president if he were to run again.
Q: Who does Trump believe should run in 2028?
A: Trump named Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as good potential candidates. He said that if they ran together as a team, they would be unbeatable.
Q: Is there actually a plan to give Trump a third term?
A: Trump supporter Steve Bannon says there’s a plan to bypass the Constitution’s term limits. But most constitutional lawyers opine that no one can do so constitutionally. The Constitution is quite strict on the two-term limit.
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