President Trump on Monday once again teased an attempt to run for a third-term, telling reporters while en route to Japan that he “would love to do it.”
“I haven’t really thought about it. We have some very good people as you know…but I have the best poll numbers that I’ve ever had,” Trump said speaking to reporters on Air Force One on the latest leg of his Asia trip this week.
Trump went on to cite Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as potential candidates, and suggested the two would make a powerful ticket.
“We have one of them standing right here,” the president said, pointing to Rubio who joined him for the gaggle with reporters. “We have JD obviously, the vice president who’s great. Marco’s great. I’m not sure if anyone would run against those two. I think if they ever formed a group it would be unstoppable.”
When asked to clarify if he was not ruling out running himself, Trump said “you’ll have to tell me.”
“All I can tell you is that we have a great group of people, which they don’t,” the president said, appearing to refer to Democrats.
Trump has repeatedly floated running for a third term, drawing the ire of critics. In an interview with CNBC in August, Trump said he would “probably not” run. However, in an interview with NBC News in March, Trump said he was “not joking” about the chance to run for a third term.
The 22nd Amendment blocks presidents from seeking a third term. The amendment was ratified in 1951, years after President Franklin D. Roosevelt secured an unprecedented fourth term.
To repeal the amendment, Trump would need support from two-thirds of the House of Representatives and the Senate or a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the state legislatures. Such a move would also require approval from three-quarters of state legislatures.
