- Trump rules out 2028 run if defeated
- Defends COVID-19 response, vaccines
- Declines second debate with Harris
Donald Trump, running for president for the third time, hinted that he will not pursue another bid for the White House in 2028 if he loses the upcoming election to Kamala Harris. Trump, who served as US president from 2017 to 2021, admitted during an interview on Full Measure that he doesn’t foresee a future run if this year’s bid fails, saying, “No, I don’t… I think that will be it.”
This statement is significant, as Trump typically denies the possibility of a legitimate defeat, often alleging electoral fraud, a claim he made in 2020 and continues to pre-emptively suggest for 2024. He is currently trailing Democratic nominee Kamala Harris by five percentage points, according to a poll from NBC News, with Harris maintaining an average national lead of 3.6 points.
At 82 years old in 2028, Trump would be one year older than President Joe Biden is now. Biden withdrew from the race earlier in July following months of criticism over his age and performance, notably after a poor debate showing.
Join the Webull revolution in the UK and receive your free shares today
During the interview, Trump defended his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, taking credit for the vaccines developed under his administration but acknowledged ongoing studies on their safety. He noted that skepticism about vaccines has increased among Republicans, contrasting with Democrats’ trust in them.
Additionally, Trump declined to participate in a second debate with Harris, stating, “Voting has already started,” during a rally in North Carolina. Harris had earlier agreed to a CNN-broadcasted debate set for October 23, after being praised for outperforming Trump in their previous debate.
