During his Asia tour, President Donald Trump conveyed a message of confidence and hinted at a potential third presidential term, while simultaneously issuing a stern warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Moscow’s recent nuclear missile test. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Tokyo, Trump expressed openness to a 2028 White House run, stating he “would love to do it” and boasted about possessing “the best numbers ever.” This comes after his former strategist, Steve Bannon, suggested a plan for a third Trump bid, despite constitutional term limits. Trump also identified potential Republican successors, naming Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance as strong contenders. Earlier, from Kuala Lumpur, Trump had highlighted trade deals and a peace treaty between Thailand and Cambodia as key achievements of his trip. He also voiced his disapproval of Russia’s test of the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, calling it “inappropriate” and urging Putin to focus on ending the conflict in Ukraine. Trump asserted America’s formidable nuclear deterrence, particularly its submarines, and warned that neither nation was “playing games.” The Burevestnik missile, described by Putin as having “no analogues in the world,” reportedly flew for 15 hours, covering approximately 14,000 kilometers. In a related development, Putin has also signed legislation terminating a plutonium disposal agreement between Russia and the US, a pact that had been suspended by Moscow in 2016.
