President Donald Trump refused to completely rule out seeking a third presidential term on Monday, October 27, 2025, while rejecting a proposed workaround that would have him run as vice president in 2028 and dismissing potential Democratic challengers as “low IQ” opponents he would welcome facing at the ballot box.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo as part of his five-day Asia tour, the 79-year-old president addressed growing speculation about his political future beyond his current term. When pressed about whether he was definitively ruling out a third term, Trump responded that reporters would “have to tell me,” adding that he would love to continue serving and currently enjoys his best approval numbers ever.
The questions arose after former chief strategist Steve Bannon claimed in a recent interview with The Economist that Trump would secure a third term through an unspecified plan to be revealed at an appropriate time. Bannon described Trump as an instrument of divine will who needs at least one more term in office.
The Constitution’s 22nd Amendment explicitly prohibits any person from being elected to the presidency more than twice. Some Trump supporters have floated a theoretical workaround where he could run as Vice President JD Vance’s running mate in 2028, with Vance then resigning after assuming office to allow Trump to take over. Legal scholars dispute whether such a maneuver would pass constitutional muster.
Trump firmly dismissed that particular strategy during the Monday gaggle with reporters. “I think the people wouldn’t like that. It’s too cute. It wouldn’t be right,” he stated, characterizing the vice presidential route as being too clever by half and something the American public would reject.
Despite ruling out the vice presidential gambit, Trump expressed confidence in Republican prospects for 2028, pointing to what he described as a strong bench of potential candidates. He specifically highlighted Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who accompanied him on the flight, as formidable political figures who would create an unstoppable ticket if they joined forces.
Trump contrasted these Republican options with potential Democratic candidates, singling out New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett for criticism. He challenged them to take cognitive tests similar to those he said he completed at Walter Reed medical center, suggesting they would struggle with the assessments. Trump indicated he would welcome facing either Democrat in a potential 2028 matchup.
The president’s comments come as he holds a 45.1 percent approval rating according to the RealClearPolitics polling average. Trump has previously teased the possibility of remaining in office beyond his current term, even distributing “Trump 2028” campaign hats at White House events. In August, he told CNBC he would probably not seek a third term, but told NBC in March he was not joking about running again.
During the Air Force One session, Trump also revealed he underwent an MRI scan during his annual physical examination earlier in October. He declined to explain the reason for the imaging but reported the results were perfect. Trump will turn 82 at the conclusion of his current term and would be 86 at the end of a hypothetical third term in 2033.
The president was traveling to Tokyo for meetings with Emperor Naruhito and newly-elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister. The Asia tour includes attendance at trade summits and a scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday. Trump expressed optimism about reaching a trade war truce with Xi, stating he has significant respect for the Chinese leader and expects to come away with a deal.
Trump also indicated interest in meeting again with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un during the trip, though no formal meeting had been scheduled at the time of his remarks. The president’s extended international journey represents his longest time abroad since taking office in January following his 2024 election victory over former President Joe Biden.
The discussion of Trump’s potential third term coincides with recent comments from former Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in November 2024, strongly suggesting she may pursue another presidential run in 2028. Harris stated in a weekend interview that she is not finished with politics.
