President has not definitively ruled out seeking to extend time in office. Key US politics stories from Monday 27 October at a glance
Donald Trump has declined to definitively say he will not seek an unconstitutional third term as US president. “I would love to do it: I have my best numbers ever,” the 79-year-old told reporters on Air Force One during a trip to Asia. Pressed on whether he was not ruling out a third term, he said, “Am I not ruling it out? I mean, you’ll have to tell me.”
It’s not the first time the president has openly expressed interest in finding a way to stay in power beyond the two terms allowed in the US constitution. But his remarks on Monday provided more details into some MAGA minds’ thought process about how to pull it off.
Some of his supporters have floated the idea that he could run as vice-president and then, if his ticket wins the 2028 election, have the president resign so he could reassume the presidency. Trump said Monday that such a move would be “too cute” and too unpopular to try.
“I think the people wouldn’t like that,” he told reporters. “It wouldn’t be right.”
But Trump’s unwillingness to rule out a third term altogether is ruffling some Democrats.
“Despite what the Constitution says, [Steve] Bannon vows Trump will be president for a third term,” US Rep. Rashida Tlaib wrote on X Monday. “But they all start crying when we call them fascists. No way in hell we’re going to let that happen.”
