President Donald Trump, during his flight to Tokyo aboard Air Force One, addressed a recent flurry of speculation regarding a potential constitutional maneuver to facilitate a third presidential term. The President labeled the notion of running as Vice President to JD Vance, with a subsequent resignation from Vance to elevate Trump to the presidency, as "too cute," stating firmly that "the people wouldn't like that."
The theory, brought into the public eye by Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon, suggested Trump could circumvent the 22nd Amendment's two-term limit by serving as vice president and then assuming the presidency. Bannon had previously hinted to the Economist about a secret plan to secure a third term for Trump, stating, "at the appropriate time, we’ll lay out what the plan is."
President Trump, who is 79 years old, offered a clear rejection of these rumors during his trip to engage in diplomatic discussions with Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. This denunciation is consistent with the President's previous comments, which have generally downplayed the likelihood of such a VP swap scenario.
Despite dismissing this particular strategy, President Trump continues to express interest in a future presidential campaign. He referred to his current approval rating, which sits at 45.1 percent according to the RealClearPolitics average of recent polls, as a motivating factor. "I would love to do it. I have my best numbers ever, it’s very terrible, I have my best numbers," the President remarked.
Political analysts have interpreted Trump's hints at a 2028 candidacy as a strategic move to retain political influence and prevent a lame-duck perception. "Trump 2028" campaign hats have even been distributed to White House guests, further fueling speculation. The President has been sending mixed signals regarding his 2028 plans, with contradictory statements made to different media outlets over the past year.
In the same conversation, President Trump took the opportunity to critique Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), calling them "low IQ" individuals and suggesting a potential match-up in a future presidential race would be favorable to him. He based this assertion on cognitive exams he underwent at Walter Reed medical center.
Additionally, President Trump praised the idea of a 2028 Republican ticket that would not include him, labeling a potential pairing of Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as "unstoppable." His comments on Monday continue a trend of providing ambiguous indications about his own political intentions while endorsing other Republican figures.
The President also revealed that he had an MRI scan during his annual physical earlier this month, which he described as "perfect," but declined to elaborate on the reasons for the scan.
The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which limits presidents to two elected terms, is a key factor in the discourse surrounding Trump's political future. Having secured his first term in 2016 and his second in 2024, Trump would be 82 at the end of his current term in January 2029. A potential third term would see him at the age of 86 by the end of such a tenure in 2033.
President Trump's trip to Tokyo signifies an ongoing commitment to strengthening relationships with key Pacific allies, as his administration continues to engage in international diplomacy.
