President Donald Trump seemed to like the idea of suspending elections like Ukraine did after the Russian invasion when the topic was raised in his Oval Office sit-down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday.
“God willing we get peace, are you open to holding an election in your country?” a reporter asked Zelenskyy during his one-on-one meeting with Trump ahead of a multilateral meeting on the war in Ukraine hosted by the White House and attended by an array of European officials.
“Yes, of course. We are open for election, yes,” Zelenskyy said. “We have to do safety in circumstances, and a little bit, we need to work in the parliament, because during the war you can’t have election. But we can — we can do security.”
Zelesnkyy suggested that a truce in the war would be needed to make it possible for Ukrainians to be able to participate in democratic, open, and legal elections.
“So, you’re saying that during the war you can’t have elections?” Trump interjected with a smile. “So let me just say, three and a half years from now — so you mean if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections? Oh, that’s good.”
Zelenskyy laughed at Trump’s quip about potentially canceling the 2028 elections if the U.S. was at war: “You like this idea?”
“Oh no,” Zelenskyy appeared to add, shaking his head.
Trump and his allies have repeatedly floated the idea of Trump serving another term, despite being constitutionally limited. In March, Trump told NBC News that there “are methods” should he decide to seek another term. Earlier this month, Trump told CNBC he would “probably not” seek another term, even though he said he’d “like to.” The Trump Organization has been selling “Trump 2028” merchandise since April.
