During an economic forum in Doha, Qatar, President Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., was asked if he would consider running for office after his father leaves politics. The question came from Bloomberg TV anchor Joumanna Bercetche. It was a serious moment — but the crowd’s reaction said a lot. When the question was asked, only a few people clapped, and it seemed like most of them were just being polite. The room was mostly quiet, with no real excitement.
Trump Jr. noticed the lack of energy right away. He laughed nervously and said, “Here we go. Well, oh, oh boy, well,” showing that he was caught off guard by the weak response. Still trying to keep it light, he added, “It’s an honor to be asked, and an honor to see that some people are OK with it,” hoping to turn the awkwardness into a joke.
Omeed Malik, a fellow panelist and president of an American investment firm, also tried to help ease the tension. He joked that the applause was just coming from “our friends in the front row,” referring to the small group who clapped, likely from Trump Jr.’s own team.
Even with the lukewarm reaction, Trump Jr. didn’t completely rule out the idea of running. He replied, “You never know,” and said he might think about it in the future. He then changed the subject to his usual talking points, criticizing “woke ideology” and saying the Republican Party is now the “America First” or “MAGA” party, thanks to his father.
He ended his answer by saying, “So the answer is: I don’t know, maybe one day.” He made it clear that even if he doesn’t run, he plans to stay active in politics by continuing to speak out on the issues he cares about.
After a video of the moment went viral online, reactions on social media were harsh. Many people mocked the idea of Trump Jr. running for president, saying they were tired of seeing the Trump name in politics. One user wrote bluntly, “Absolutely fing not. F this guy.” Another said, “I don’t want to see another Trump on the ballot. Every election since I turned 18 has had someone vs. Trump. I’m tired.”
Others pointed out that Trump Jr. doesn’t have the same personality or appeal as his father, which they believe makes him unlikely to gain strong support. One person commented, “No matter how you feel about Trump, people are drawn to his personality. His son doesn’t have that. He’s not likable.”
The Lincoln Project, a group known for opposing Trump, even responded with a clip from the TV show Succession, comparing Trump Jr. to a character having a tantrum after being rejected as a successor, yelling, “I’m the eldest boy!”
Trump Jr.’s response in Doha was much softer than his reaction a few months ago. Back in March, when rumors started about him planning to run for president in 2028, he angrily denied it. He sent a profanity-filled message to the media, calling the rumors stupid and insulting the journalists reporting them.
So while Trump Jr. now says “maybe one day,” it’s clear that not many people — at home or abroad — are jumping up and down at the idea of him stepping into his father’s shoes.
