Who Will Lead the United States and Russia After Trump and Putin?

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he will leave the White House at the end of his second term, without seeking an extension, citing the legal limitations that prevent him from running for a third term.

In an interview with NBC News, Trump said, “I will serve as president for eight years — two terms,” noting that his Vice President, J.D. Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are among the potential candidates to succeed him.

He added that his Vice President holds an advantage over other contenders due to his familiarity with domestic affairs, but emphasized that it is still too early to discuss such matters.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that he constantly thinks about the question of succession. He made this statement in response to a question during a documentary produced by Russian television to mark 25 years of his leadership.

In remarks aired on Sunday, he added: “In the end, the decision rests with the Russian people,” stressing the importance of having more than one candidate to ensure the public has real choices.