President Trump said Monday he has no plans to join Vice President JD Vance on a ticket to sidestep the Constitution’s two-term limit — but hinted he’s far from done with politics, teasing a possible 2028 showdown with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Trump, 79, made the comments after a reporter asked him about former chief strategist Steve Bannon’s claim of a secret plan that could somehow get around the 22nd Amendment’s two-term limit.
"I would love to do it. I have my best numbers ever, it’s very terrible, I have my best numbers," Trump said aboard Air Force One as he headed to Tokyo to meet Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
On Monday, President Trump admitted he’d love nothing more than to serve a third term. AP
Trump’s approval rating sits at 45.1%, per the RealClearPolitics poll average — and he’s been teasing another run, partly to keep his influence alive and partly, critics say, to troll the Democrats. He’s even given out “Trump 2028” hats to visitors at the White House.
Speaking with The Economist, Bannon boldly claimed, "he’s going to get a third term… at the appropriate time, we’ll lay out what the plan is. But there’s a plan."
Trump firmly rejected the most talked-about idea — joining JD Vance’s ticket and then having Vance step aside — a move that would have skirted the 22nd Amendment’s limit on being “elected” president more than twice.
"I think the people wouldn’t like that. It’s too cute. It wouldn’t be right," he told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Trump talks with Vice President JD Vance (left) as they meet Argentine President Javier Milei in the Cabinet Room at the White House. Getty Images
Trump suggested a potential 2028 face-off with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Getty Images
Trump suggested that JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio could join forces on the Republican ticket in the next election, calling the duo “unstoppable.”
But he continued to keep the door open for a possible run.
“All I can tell you is that we have a great group of people, which they don’t. They have [Texas Rep.] Jasmine Crockett, a low IQ person. They have AOC who is low IQ. You give her an IQ test, have her pass the exams that I decided to take when I was at Walter Reed, I took very hard,” he added.
Trump addressed the possibility when reporters asked about Steve Bannon’s claim of a secret plan for a third term. Getty Images
Trump envisioned a Republican ticket with JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, describing the pair as “unstoppable.” REUTERS
“Let AOC go against Trump. Let Jasmine go against Trump.”
In August, Trump said to CNBC he would “probably not” run for a third term — yet in March, he told NBC he was “not joking” about a comeback.
On Air Force One, Trump mentioned he’d had an MRI as part of his annual physical this month. He wouldn’t say why, but assured reporters that the results were “perfect.”
Trump will be 82 when his current term ends — and 86 by the close of a potential third term in 2033.
