Trump Rules Out Vice-Presidential Run in 2028, While Saying He “Would Love” a Third Term:

Former President Donald Trump has dismissed speculation about running for vice president in 2028—yet reiterated his desire to serve a third term in the White House. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Monday, Trump said he would not pursue the vice-presidency because it’s “too cute” and likely to be unpopular, even though he believes he “would be allowed to do that.” Trump—who served as President from 2017 to 2021 and began his second term in January—has long teased a possible political comeback. The 79-year-old’s frequent appearances wearing “Trump 2028” hats and his comments at rallies have stirred debate over whether he aims to bypass the U.S. Constitution’s two-term limit for presidents. Under the 22nd Amendment, no person may be elected to the presidency more than twice. Yet some of Trump’s allies have floated creative workarounds—such as him running as vice president, with the top of the ticket resigning, thus allegedly opening the door for Trump to resume the presidency. On Monday, Trump flatly rejected that scenario. “I wouldn’t do that. I think it’s too cute. 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,” he told reporters. Legal scholars reinforce his refusal from another angle: The 12th Amendment of the Constitution states that “no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.” In other words, someone who cannot legally become president (due to term limits) cannot legally become vice president either—putting such vice-presidential schemes on shaky ground. Asked about his own future, Trump threw a touch of ambiguity into the mix. On a third presidential term, he said: “I would love to do it. I have my best numbers ever.” When pressed whether he was ruling out a third presidential bid altogether, he replied, “Am I not ruling it out? I mean, you’ll have to tell me.” On whether he’d be willing to litigate the matter, Trump said: “I haven’t really thought about it.” During his remarks, Trump also mentioned possible successors. He praised Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as “great people” who could run for president in 2028. “I think if they ever formed a group, it’d be unstoppable. I really do. I believe that.” At the time of his remarks, Trump was traveling on Air Force One from Malaysia to Japan, following his attendance at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend. After a stopover in Tokyo, he headed to South Korea to attend the Asia‑Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, where he is scheduled to meet several world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump’s attempt to close the door on a vice-presidential run yet keep the possibility of a third presidential term alive leaves a window open for speculation. Whether legal scholars, courts, or political strategists will take up that challenge remains to be seen—but for now he appears focused on the presidency, not the vice presidency, for 2028.

NEWS