President Donald Trump didn’t give a firm “no” when asked aboard Air Force One on Monday whether he would rule out seeking a third term. Instead he said he’d “love to do it,” while reminding reporters of the eight wars he says he ended.
On his way to Tokyo for talks with Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi — during his Asia tour — Trump was asked:
“Sir, Steve Bannon said in a recent interview that there could be plans for you to be able to run and potentially win a third term in 2028. Is that something you’d be willing to challenge at the court to be able to do?”
Trump responded:
“I haven’t really thought about it. We have some very good people as you know, but I have the best poll numbers I’ve ever had. I mean I just solved eight wars and a ninth is coming. I believe Russia Ukraine will happen. But we just did– you know we just left and when you look at the treaty we just did, that was a war. Thousands of people were already shot at the border and when you look at what we just did, it was pretty amazing. We got a lot of pretty good credit. And I really have to thank Malaysia for that because the prime minister and everybody really helped get the two countries together. But, it was quite a great peace treaty. But that was one of eight and it makes me feel good. I mean it’s millions of people we saved. I saved the lives of millions of people. That’s what’s important.”
When pressed about 2028:
Reporter: “You said that for 2028 there are very good people?”
Trump: “Well, we have great people. Well, I don’t have to get into that, but we have one of them standing right here. We have JD [Vance] obviously. The vice president is great. Marco [Rubio] is great. I’m not sure if anybody would run against us. I think if they have a form to group it would be unstoppable, I do. I really believe that. I would love to do it. I have my best numbers ever. It’s very terrible. I have my best numbers and if you read it–”
Reporter: “You’re not ruling out a third term?”
Trump: “Am I not ruling it out? I mean, you’ll have to tell me. All I can tell you is that we have a great group of people which they don’t.”
A second reporter aboard the plane asked:
Reporter: “One theory on how you might try to serve a third term is that you could run as the vice president to continue serving in the White House.”
Trump: “Yeah, I’d be allowed to do that.”
Reporter: “Do you think the White House, or the White House counsel [inaudible] is in legal position like this?”
Trump: “No, you’d be allowed to that, but I wouldn’t want– I wouldn’t do that. I think it’s too cute.”
Reporter: “You’re ruling that out?”
Trump: “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.”
Trump says he would be allowed to serve a third term by running as VP but says he wouldn’t do that because it’s too cute and the people wouldn’t like that. https://t.co/mAUXZ5SMAE pic.twitter.com/Krueq7QLeY
— Acyn (@Acyn) October 27, 2025
