Presidents are constitutionally limited to two elected terms, but some have suggested an unorthodox strategy to remain in office, such as running for vice president.
Donald Trump said on Monday morning that he would rule out running for vice president in the 2028 US election, an unorthodox approach that some of his supporters have suggested would allow the Republican US president to serve a third term in the White House.
“I would be allowed to do that,” Trump said, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he traveled from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, the final leg of a five-day trip to Asia that he hopes to cap with a trade war truce with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
But he added: “I wouldn’t do that. I think it’s really cute. Yeah, I would rule out that possibility because it’s really cute. I don’t think people would like that… It’s not – it wouldn’t be right.”
No one can be elected to the US presidency for a third time, according to the 22nd amendment of the US constitution.
Some have suggested that a way around this ban would be for Trump to run as vice president, while another candidate would run for president but then resign, allowing Trump, as No. 2, to once again assume the presidency.
Opponents question whether this would be legal.
Referring to the possibility of a third term, however, Trump said: “I would love to. I have the best numbers in my history.”
When asked by a reporter if he wasn’t ruling out a third term, he responded, “I’m not ruling it out? I mean, you’re going to have to tell me.”
He added: “All I can say is we have a great group of people, what they [os democratas] it does not have”.
Referring to JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump also said they were great people who could run for office.
“I think if they ever formed a group, it would be unbeatable,” he said. “Seriously. I believe it.”
The comments were Trump’s latest on the issue, something he has teased in public statements and with “Trump 2028” hats he hands out at the White House.
In the weekend interview, former US vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump last November, said she was not done with politics and strongly suggested she was considering another run for president and has not ruled out running in 2028.
Meanwhile, Trump is making his longest trip abroad since taking office in January and is expected to attend the APEC and ASEAN trade summits. He announced a series of trade and key minerals deals with four Southeast Asian countries during his first stop in Malaysia and is scheduled to meet Xi in South Korea on Thursday.
“I have a lot of respect for President Xi and I think we will reach an agreement,” Trump said before landing in Tokyo.
He also said he would like to meet North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un again.
Originally published by The Guardian on 10/27/2025
By Tom Ambrose and Agency Reuters
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/10/27/trump-adoraria-um-terceiro-mandato-inconstitucional/
