As storm clouds buffet his presidency, Donald Trump shows no sign of recognising that the sands of time may now be rapidly expiring on his personal political viability.
Faced with record-low approval ratings, growing public hostility towards his war in Iran, fury about the price of petrol at the pumps, and a Make America Great Again movement that is fracturing, the President is still indicating that he has no plans to leave the stage any time soon.
With his 80th birthday now just a month away, Trump joked at a White House small business summit last Tuesday that he would take advantage of a fresh round of business tax deductions “when I get out of office, say in eight or nine years from now”.
His veiled threat to circumvent the constitution and seek an unconstitutional third term in power sparked laughter and applause in the East Room. But Trump has previously confirmed that he is serious about the possibility of seeking a third term as president, upending a 240-year foundation of the US political system.
“There are methods,” he said last year, with his former adviser Steve Bannon – who has been convicted of fraud and contempt of Congress – saying he believed Trump will run and win again.
Within his inner circle, at least three potential successors are limbering up in the wings.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio enjoyed a blinder of a week that started with him filling in for Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary who is now on maternity leave. He appeared to relish every moment as he sparred and joked with reporters, generating a buzz that led Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post to call Rubio “a rock star in the Trump administration … making himself a serious candidate” for 2028.
Driving the message home, Rubio released a social media video that looked like the opening shot of his undeclared presidential campaign, featuring his press briefing exchange with Kelly Wright, White House correspondent at the Christian Broadcasting Network.
Wright‘s question, “what is your hope for America at a time such as this?” is followed by a totemic speech, overlaid with imagery of Rubio, Trump, Ronald Reagan and a visual tapestry of a thriving, multi-cultural nation.
The US President joked last week about staying in power for ‘eight or nine’ more years (Photo: Nathan Howard/Getty Images)America, enthuses Rubio, must “continue being the place where anyone from anywhere can achieve anything”. The video, complete with soaring music, culminates with subtlety-free talk of the need for “perpetual and continuous improvement” from one generation to the next.
And Rubio wasn’t the only Trump insider turning to video last week in an effort to advance possible presidential ambition. The Commander-in-chief’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, was at it as well.
In a reel now pinned atop Don Jr’s account on “X”, the President and his son are seen exiting Marine One and walking towards the White House on a picture-perfect spring evening. “Sleepover at dad’s house,” gushes Don Jr. “It never isn’t surreal to be able to witness this incredible slice of Americana. Just an absolute honor.”
The imagery of Trump’s son literally walking in his father’s footsteps came days after reports that Amazon owner Jeff Bezos may hire Don Jr to front a reboot of The Apprentice, the 14-season reality TV show that served as the glidepath for his dad’s presidential run in 2016.
Trump Senior confirmed earlier this month that the idea is under discussion. But in comments to reporters he was either unenthused about a project that could divert Don Jr’s attention away from overseeing the Trump businesses or was nervous about saying too much.
“He’s a good guy. He’s probably good. He’s got a little charisma going,” said the President of a son whose personal wealth has soared more than sixfold since the January 2025 inauguration. Along with his brother Eric, Don Jr is credited with more than doubling the Trumps’ collective personal fortune since the patriarch returned to the Oval Office.
Donald Trump Jr is emerging as a key potential candidate to follow in his father’s footsteps (Photo: Romain Maurice/Getty Images)Don Jr’s instalment as President could make sense as part of an ominous theory about his plans to cling to power. There have previously been suggestions that Trump could – in the style of Vladimir Putin – install a puppet candidate to serve as president while he pulls the strings from behind the scenes.
While reporters in Washington cannot get the theme tune from Succession out of their minds, Vice President JD Vance is struggling to advance his 2028 aspirations. The last month saw him unable to sway Hungarian voters to back Viktor Orban’s re-election bid in Hungary, failing to secure a peace agreement during Islamabad talks with the Iranians and accused by Maga influencers of betraying his own campaign pledge to keep America out of foreign wars.
While Vance remains the top-rated choice of Republicans to succeed Trump, his polling numbers are falling rapidly as Rubio draws support away from him, and Don Jr appears increasingly competitive.
It’s early days. The runners and riders are still saddling up. But the biggest question of all remains: will Trump even allow the race to occur?
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