‘Have Best Numbers Ever’: Trump Flirts With Third Term Fantasy, Warns Putin Over ‘Unstoppable’ Nuclear Missile Test | World News

Washington: United States President Donald Trump struck a confident tone as he continued his tour of Asia aboard Air Force One, departing from Malaysia for Tokyo and answering questions from the traveling press. Before leaving Kuala Lumpur, he told Truth Social that Malaysia was a “big and very vibrant country”, highlighting the signing of major trade and rare earths deals, as well as what he called the “most important” achievement of his trip so far: a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia. “NO WAR! Millions of lives saved,” he wrote, calling the signing an honor before expressing his excitement for the Japan leg of the tour.

Mid-flight, the conversation shifted to Trump’s own political future after former White House strategist Steve Bannon suggested he run for an unprecedented third presidential term in 2028. Trump responded that “I would love to do that” and boasted of having the “best numbers ever” but stated that he was “not really considering” running again.

He also identified potential successors within the Republican Party; He named Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance as prominent faces, praising both men as “great” and suggesting neither could easily face an opponent within the party.

Bannon, one of Trump’s leading allies, recently told listeners on his podcast that “there is a plan” for Trump’s third candidacy, even though the US Constitution limits presidents to two terms. Still, the idea continues to gain attention in Trump’s political orbit.

He also commented on a major nuclear development involving Russia as it approached Tokyo. He criticized Moscow’s recent test of a nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, calling the move “inappropriate” and urging President Vladimir Putin to prioritize ending the Ukraine conflict over advancing missile programs. Trump argued that the war “should last a week” and is now in its fourth year.

Emphasizing America’s deterrence, drawing attention to the US’s strategic capabilities, he said, “They know that we have a nuclear submarine, the largest in the world, off their coast” and emphasized that neither Washington nor Moscow are “playing games”.

Russia’s test was previously announced by Putin in his speech to the Federal Assembly. He described a small nuclear power unit built into the missile to provide extremely long flight endurance at low altitudes with an unpredictable trajectory.

He claimed that Burevestnik “has no analogues in the world”, that the tests were successful and that Russia will move towards deployment.

The missile remained airborne for about 15 hours and traveled about 14,000 kilometers, or roughly 8,700 miles, according to Russian officials.

In parallel with the missile development, Putin signed the law officially terminating the long-inactive plutonium destruction agreement between Russia and the United States. The agreement, first signed in September 2000, required both countries to eliminate 34 tons of weapons-grade plutonium previously earmarked for military use.

The arrangement had already unraveled when Moscow suspended its participation in 2016, citing US sanctions and growing NATO influence near its borders. The State Duma approved the bill earlier this month, followed by the Federation Council last week. Russian state media RT reported that the termination has now come into force.