Donald Trump says he 'would love' a third term during Asia tour

US President makes second stop of Asia tour before keenly awaited meeting with Chinese counterpart in South Korea

US President Donald Trump poses with Japan's Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday. AFP

The US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he “would love to” run for a third term, despite it being prohibited by the US Constitution.

Mr Trump was speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while travelling from Malaysia to Japan as part of a five-day trip to Asia. When asked if he would serve a third term in the White House, Mr Trump said: “I would love to do it. I have my best numbers ever.”

The 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution limits presidents to two terms in office. Some supporters have proposed a way around the prohibition, suggesting that Mr Trump should run to be vice president while another candidate stands for election as president and then resigns, allowing him to assume office again.

Mr Trump, however, has ruled that out – leaving no obvious path to remaining in power. “I wouldn't do that. I think it's too cute. Yeah, I would rule that out because it's too cute. I think the people wouldn't like that. It wouldn't be right,” he told reporters on the flight.

In an interview last week, former US vice president and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, who lost to Mr Trump last November, said she was not done with politics and strongly suggested she was considering another run for president in 2028.

Meanwhile, Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist, has suggested “there is a plan” for the President to defy the Constitution and seek a third term.

Mr Trump met Japanese Emperor Naruto after arriving in Tokyo on Monday, where he plans to announce a “great friendship” between his country and Japan during a meeting with new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Speaking on board Air Force One as he flew from Malaysia, where he was attending the Association of South-East Asian Nations summit, Mr Trump said: “I look forward to meeting the new Prime Minister. I hear phenomenal things [about her].”

One of the main points on the agenda during the meeting with Ms Takaichi on Tuesday will be Japan's agreement to invest $550 billion in the US, reached earlier this year under her predecessor, in exchange for lower trade tariffs.

Asked about reports that the two countries would announce a shipbuilding agreement, Mr Trump said the US wanted “more ships”. He added: “We lost that industry but we’ll get that industry back.”

Tokyo is the second stop on Mr Trump's Asia tour after attending the Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. His trip concludes in South Korea, where he will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in Seoul on Thursday.

The focus of the Seoul leg is likely to be the US President's meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping – the first since Mr Trump began his second term in January and shook up the global economy by raising tariffs on imports from its major trade partners. The US and China announced a breakthrough in their trade dispute during negotiations in Malaysia at the weekend.