Trump Rules Out Running As Vance’s VP To Gain Third Term, But Open To Bannon Plan: ‘Let AOC Go Against Trump’
President Trump made it clear Monday that he won’t consider joining Vice President JD Vance’s ticket as a running mate in an effort to bypass the Constitution’s two-term presidential limit. However, he left no doubt that his political ambitions are still alive—hinting at a possible return to the campaign trail in 2028, where he mused about facing off against New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The question arose aboard Air Force One, where a reporter asked about comments made by Steve Bannon suggesting a covert strategy to challenge the 22nd Amendment’s restrictions. Trump laughed off the idea but admitted his continued enthusiasm for politics. “I would love to do it. I have my best numbers ever, it’s very terrible, I have my best numbers,” he remarked while en route to Tokyo for meetings with Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
With his approval rating hovering around 45.1% according to RealClearPolitics, Trump has repeatedly toyed with talk of another run. He’s even distributed “Trump 2028” hats to visitors, blending humor with a clear message that his influence within the Republican Party remains strong.
Meanwhile, Bannon, Trump’s onetime chief strategist, fanned speculation with bold predictions. In an interview with The Economist, Bannon 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, however, rejected the notion of skirting the Constitution by running as Vance’s vice president and later stepping in as president through resignation. “I think the people wouldn’t like that. It’s too cute. It wouldn’t be right,” he told reporters.
He went on to praise potential future Republican leaders, saying he could envision a ticket featuring Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling them “unstoppable.” Still, Trump kept the spotlight partially on himself, taking aim at prominent Democrats. “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 said.
“Let AOC go against Trump. Let Jasmine go against Trump,” he added confidently.
Although Trump told CNBC in August that he would “probably not” pursue a third term, his March interview with NBC told a different story, when he stated he was “not joking” about running again.
During the same flight, Trump also mentioned undergoing an MRI scan as part of his annual medical checkup, assuring reporters that “it was perfect.” If he does make another bid for the White House, he would be 82 at the conclusion of his current term and 86 at the end of a third term in 2033.
{Matzav.com}
