Trump again declines to rule out unconstitutional third term

• Steve Bannon, a MAGA podcaster and former Trump adviser, turned heads in a recent interview with the Economist by suggesting there was "a plan" for Trump to stay in office.

Driving the news: "I haven't really thought about it," he told reporters on Air Force One when asked about Bannon's comments.

• Trump claimed he has the "best poll numbers" he'd ever had, even though prominent polls suggest otherwise.
• He said if Rubio and Vance "formed a group" they'd be "unstoppable." But the president again added, "I would love to do it. I have my best numbers ever."
• When pressed if he would rule out a third term, he replied, "Am I not ruling it out? You'll have to tell me."

Reality check: Trump has said he's "not joking" about a third term. And while legal scholars have told Axios they're taking his comments seriously, he's constitutionally barred from running again.

• Amending the Constitution is an arduous process that would be unlikely to succeed.

• Trump previously said in a conversation with NBC News that there were "methods" by which he could serve another term, such as Vance running for president and then passing the baton back to him.

Yes, but: The president told reporters Monday that while he thinks he'd be "allowed" to do that, he ruled out that method as "too cute."

• The 12th amendment, however, provides another potential safeguard. It states that "no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States."

Go deeper: Trump store sells hats teasing third term in 2028