In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, President Donald Trump offered his clearest signal yet that he has no intentions of pursuing a third term in office. Despite ongoing speculation and even merchandise pushing the idea, Trump stated firmly that he plans to leave office after serving two terms.
“I’ll be an eight-year president; I’ll be a two-term president,” Trump emphasized, acknowledging the constitutional limits that bar any U.S. president from serving more than two terms.
The conversation, led by moderator Kristen Welker, highlighted Trump’s awareness of the legal barriers posed by the 22nd Amendment. Though he admitted hearing various ideas about extending his presidency, including “write-in” votes and questionable legal maneuvers, Trump noted he has not held any formal meetings on the subject.
Instead, Trump is shifting focus to grooming future GOP leaders capable of carrying the Make America Great Again (MAGA) agenda forward. He praised Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as potential successors, calling them “brilliant” and “great” men.
While Vance appears to be at the top of the list, Trump stopped short of declaring him the next GOP frontrunner. “It could very well be,” he said, but stressed it’s “far too early” to commit. Trump also acknowledged that being vice president gives Vance a natural advantage.
Rubio, who now holds multiple significant roles including acting national security adviser has also earned Trump’s admiration. Though Trump doesn’t see Rubio holding all his current positions long-term, he praised the former Florida senator’s ability to manage multiple responsibilities.
“Marco’s doing an outstanding job,” Trump said, adding that while a permanent replacement will eventually be found, Rubio’s contributions are invaluable in the short term.
As discussions around the 2028 presidential race heat up, Trump seems more preoccupied with the 2026 midterms. He plans to be “very active” in campaigning and fundraising to help Republicans hold on to Congress a historically difficult feat for the party in power.
Even as backlash mounts over executive decisions involving tariffs and diversity policies, Trump remains confident. He dismissed poll concerns, arguing past patterns can be broken and Republicans can maintain legislative control.
“There are many great Republicans,” Trump concluded. “I’m looking to finish strong and then pass the torch to the right leader.”
