President Donald Trump provided a characteristically candid reason when asked why he wouldn’t attempt a third term by running as vice president in 2028.
During a flight from Malaysia to Tokyo, Japan, aboard Air Force One, Trump was questioned by reporters about whether he’d ever consider becoming a vice presidential candidate as a backdoor method to return to power.
Some of his staunchest MAGA supporters have suggested that the 79-year-old might join the ticket as another candidate’s running mate, and then ascend to the presidency if the new president were to step down.
The 22nd Amendment of the US Constitution clearly prohibits a president from being elected more than twice, and the 12th Amendment further closes any vice-presidential loophole by stating that anyone ineligible for the presidency also cannot serve as vice president. Despite these clear constitutional guidelines, Trump and his followers have speculated about possible ways to extend his tenure in the White House.
“I’d be allowed to do that,” Trump confidently told reporters on October 27, before admitting that he ‘wouldn’t do that’.
He then gave a rather unusual three-word response, saying he believes ‘it’s too cute’.
The former president elaborated: “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.”
Trump has previously alluded to the idea of a ‘Trump 2028’ campaign during rallies and interviews, often joking about the prospect of serving beyond the conventional two terms.
“I would love to do it. I have my best numbers ever,” he remarked when questioned about the potential of a third term.
When asked if he was definitively ruling himself out, Trump seemed to sidestep the question: “Am I not ruling it out? I mean you’ll have to tell me.”
When Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th President in January 2021, he was 78 years and 61 days old, and by the conclusion of his term, he was 82 years and 61 days old.
Trump was already the oldest individual nominated for the Oval Office in history, and by the close of his second term, he would be 156 days older than Biden was when his term ended.
While there are many Americans who would welcome the idea of Trump reclaiming the White House for another term in 2028, the likelihood of such an event occurring is exceedingly low.