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President Donald Trump said he has no plans to serve as a vice presidential candidate in 2028, telling reporters Sunday that Republicans already have “great” contenders preparing to seek the presidency.
Asked whether he might consider joining a future ticket, the president said Republicans should look to current leaders such as Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“We have great people. I don’t have to get into that, but we have one of them standing right here. We have JD, obviously. The Vice President is great. Marco is great, I think,” President Trump said. “I’m not sure if anybody would run against those. I think if they ever formed a group, it would be unstoppable.”
He criticized a pair of potential Democratic candidates in sharp terms, calling Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez “low IQ,” and referencing the cognitive assessments he says he took while at Walter Reed.
“They have Jasmine Crockett, a low IQ person. They have AOC’s low IQ,” Trump said. “If you give her an IQ test, have her pass, like, the exams that I decided to take when I was at Walter Reed. I took those very hard, they’re really aptitude tests.”
Trump said he technically could run as vice president, but dismissed the idea.
“You’d be allowed to do that, but I wouldn’t do that. I think it’s too cute,” he said.
The president made the remarks during a flight across Asia, where he is meeting regional leaders during a five-day tour. He landed in Japan early Tuesday and is expected to meet with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo, the country’s first female leader.
Trump also confirmed he was open to meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his upcoming stop in South Korea.
The rumors of the president running as a vice presidential candidate in 2028 follow speculation of “Trump 2028” merchandise earlier in the year. American presidents may only serve two terms, leaving President Trump’s only option to run as the vice presidential candidate on a future ticket, something he has now ruled out in his public statement.
