The US president is mulling a third term, even though the Constitution prohibits it.
Published October 28, 2025
US President Donald Trump has ruled out running for vice president in 2028, but has said he would like to serve a third term.
Monday’s comments came despite the U.S. Constitution barring a third-time election to the country’s president.
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Trump served as president from 2017 to 2021, and began his second term in January.
The 79-year-old has repeatedly brought up the idea of serving beyond the constitutionally mandated two terms, joking at rallies and teasing supporters by wearing a “Trump 2028” hat.
Some allies have indicated they are taking these signals seriously and are exploring legal or political means to make that happen.
Some say one way around the ban could be for Mr. Trump to run for vice president while another candidate runs for president but resigns, allowing Mr. Trump to become president again.
Asked Monday if he would run for vice president in November 2028, President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, “I would be allowed to do so.”
But he added that he has no intention of going down that path.
“I wouldn’t do that. I think it’s too cute. Yeah, I’ll rule that out because it’s too cute. I don’t think people would like it. It’s too cute. It’s not. That’s not right.”
But scholars argue that Trump is not qualified to be president and is therefore barred from running for vice president. The 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states, “No person who is not constitutionally qualified to hold the office of President shall be qualified to hold the office of Vice President of the United States.”
“I would love to do that. I have the best numbers ever,” Trump said Monday, referring to the possibility of a third term as president.
Asked by a reporter if he had not ruled out a third term, he said: “I’m not ruling it out? I mean, you’d have to tell me.”
Asked if he plans to fight the legitimacy of another presidential election in court, Trump said, “I haven’t really thought about it.”
The president also said that Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are “fantastic people” who could seek to become president in 2028.
“I think if they form a group, it’s going to be unstoppable,” he said. “I really think so. I believe so.”
President Trump made the comments aboard Air Force One, flying from Malaysia to Japan.
He will attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend, stop in Tokyo, and then fly to South Korea to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
He is scheduled to meet with several world leaders in South Korea, including Chinese President Xi Jinping.
