US President Donald Trump discussed on Monday who could lead the Republican Party after he leaves office, naming Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance as the main contenders for the presidential nomination in 2028, Politico reports.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Japan, Trump responded to suggestions that he should run for an unconstitutional third term - an idea recently proposed by former White House strategist Steve Bannon.
"I would love to do it - I have the best numbers ever", Trump said when asked about Bannon's comments.
However, Trump added that "he has not thought" to run again. "We have some really good people", he noted.
When pressed to name names, Trump pointed to Rubio, who had returned to the dressing room to speak to reporters. "We have some great people - I don't need to go into that. One of them is sitting right here," Trump said.
He went on to praise his Vice President, Vance, who plays a key role in the administration on a number of homeland security and national security issues.
"Obviously J.D. is great. The vice president is great," Trump said. "I'm not sure anyone would run against those two."
Bannon has been among the most vocal in pushing for Trump to run for a third term.
"There is a plan," he said in a recent podcast, hinting that Trump could run again despite constitutional restrictions that prevent him.