Trump says he may not endorse a 2028 Republican successor
Trump said he would rather not mention other possible candidates and that his endorsement would carry weight if he gave one.
President Donald Trump said on Monday he might stay out of the 2028 Republican race and withhold an endorsement, Turkey's state-run news agency Anadolu Agency reported.
Asked by CBS's 60 Minutes whether he would back a potential successor, Trump replied, "Probably. Not necessarily."
He later added, "Maybe I'm better off not getting involved."
Asked about other possible candidates besides Vice President JD Vance, he praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a strong candidate and said several senators were excellent.
Trump declined to name other potential successors, saying he would rather not mention their names.
Even without committing to an endorsement, he said his backing would play a big role because his endorsement capacity had been very strong.
The remarks came after Republicans suffered significant losses in Tuesday's midterm elections, and Trump said his Make America Great Again movement could continue after he leaves office.
He said the movement was basically common sense and listed border security, military strength and economic growth as its core principles.
Trump blamed the party's midterm losses partly on "bad messaging," saying the administration had not communicated its message effectively to voters.
He insisted public support for his handling of the war with Iran remained phenomenal, despite several polls indicating otherwise, and argued that voter dissatisfaction with his economic policies was not connected to the war.
Trump also said he had held dozens of campaign rallies before the midterms, yet added, "We couldn't get the word across."
He further accused news outlets of failing to cover positive news for Republicans.
The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution limits presidents to two elected terms, which bars Trump from seeking a third term in 2028.
