Americast: Americanswers on 5 Live!—Will Kamala Harris (and Donald Trump) Run for President Again?
BBC News | October 27, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively edition of Americast’s Monday “Americanswers” Q&A session, Matt Chorley anchors a discussion with Justin Webb (in the studio) and Anthony Zurcher (reporting live from Tokyo), responding to listener questions about the most current, contentious, and curious aspects of US politics. The episode dissects President Trump’s Asia trip, the controversial White House ballroom construction, speculation around a potential third presidential term for Donald Trump, prospects for a Kamala Harris 2028 candidacy, and the ongoing visibility (or lack thereof) of the Democratic party. The tone is sharp, humorous, and deeply analytical, featuring notable clips from key political players and direct listener input.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Asia Tour and Foreign Affairs

• [01:57] Anthony Zurcher in Tokyo: Trump is mid-way through a multi-nation Asian tour, brokering a peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand and seeking to diffuse trade tensions with China by negotiating over rare earths and American soybeans. (02:32)
• Trump’s aims: Establish a big “win” through trade agreements, hoping to induce China to buy US exports and, in reciprocity, remove his 100% tariff threat.
• Reputation-building: Trump is adding another brokering deal to his personal ledger.

Notable quote:

• “Add that onto the list of peace deals that Donald Trump likes to talk about brokering.” —Anthony Zurcher (03:20)

2. White House East Wing Demolition: The “Trump Ballroom”

• Listener concern: Is it legal for President Trump to demolish and rebuild part of the White House, funded by private donors?
• Cost inflation: From an initially announced $200 million project to a $300 million “Trump Ballroom” (05:53).
• Legal grey areas: The White House is exempt from the National Historic Preservation Act, and Trump has installed board members likely to approve his plans.
• Private funding: Though unprecedented, the project is not clearly illegal but is seen as breaking norms—whether the private donors can influence policy (e.g., China policy) is a potential concern. (04:22-05:20)

Quotes:

• “He finds a way. No one has any kind of grounds to stop it. He operates in kind of breaking norms, but he does it. And then no one can really say no.” —Anthony Zurcher (07:37)
• “The taxpayer isn't paying for it. And if good natured, deep pocketed Americans want to get their checkbook out just to have something nice, that is a possibility.” —Justin Webb (05:20)

3. Could Trump Seek a Third Term? The "Trump 2028" Debate

• Rationale: Steve Bannon publicly floats the possibility of a third Trump term, citing unorthodox plans and “loopholes” in the 22nd Amendment. (09:06-09:32)
• Constitutional debate: Panel examines whether legal ambiguities about being “elected” vs merely “serving” as president could create a loophole.
• Feasibility and intention: Trump himself dismisses “too cute” schemes (such as being VP and ascending), but the panel analyzes how Bannon’s statement is likely more about “outflanking” rivals and stirring up the MAGA base.

Quotes:

• “He's going to get a third term. So Trump 28. Trump is going to be president 28. And people just ought to get accommodated with that.” —Steve Bannon [09:06]
• “The weird thing about it is...the 22nd Amendment, it specifically says you can't be elected twice, but it doesn't say you can't be president more than twice.” —Matt Chorley (10:26)

4. Trump Dynasty: Will Ivanka, Jared, or the Trump Sons Succeed Him?

• Listener question about 2028: Are Ivanka Trump or Jared Kushner likely successors?
• Panel consensus: Ivanka appears uninterested after withdrawing from politics, and Kushner’s focus is on business; the Trump sons are more likely candidates.
• Notable asides: Jared credited with success on Middle East business deals, showing the continued Trump network influence. (13:29-13:53)

5. Kamala Harris 2028: Will She Run Again?

• Laura Kuenssberg interview with Kamala Harris:
  • When asked if a woman will be president: "In their lifetime, for sure."
  • Asked if it could be Harris: "Possibly."
  • Has she made a decision?: "No, I have not." (14:29-14:37)
• Panel skepticism: Harris is portrayed as overly cautious, programmed, and not connecting with voters, leading to her campaign collapse in 2020 and losing the 2024 election as nominee.
• Historical rarity: Aside from Trump and Nixon, no candidate has lost and returned successfully in the modern era.

Memorable exchanges:

• Laura Kuenssberg: "Could [the woman president] be you?" [14:33]
  Kamala Harris: "Possibly." [14:33]
• “Once you run for president, once you look in the mirror and then you see a president, a potential president looking back at you, you never let that go.” —Anthony Zurcher (15:33)
• “I mean, she didn't even get to Iowa. She ran out of money because people were saying, 'What's the point of funding this? Because we don't really know what she's about.'” —Matt Chorley (16:31)

6. Democratic Party: Where Are the Challengers?

• Panel points out: Democrat voices rarely cut through in the current context because they lack institutional power. Key exceptions like Gavin Newsom and J.B. Pritzker are in the wings but not yet breaking through nationally.
• Deep unpopularity: The Democratic Party’s favorability has fallen even below Trump’s own low approval ratings, reflecting deep party malaise. (19:35)

7. The White House Website Controversy

• Listener observation: Trump administration has updated the official White House website’s “historic moments” timeline, now including items such as the “Bill Clinton scandal,” “Obama and the Muslim Brotherhood,” and “cocaine found in the White House”—as well as highlighting Trump’s own renovations.
• Panel analysis: Seen as trolling opponents—part of Trump's wider strategy of "owning the libs," dominating the narrative, and distracting from substantive policy debate.

Quote:

• “It's Donald Trump and the Republicans in the White House trolling Democrats...One of the central premises of their movement is owning the libs, trying to stick it and anger Democrats and people on the left.” —Anthony Zurcher (22:12)
• “Was it Churchill who said, history is going to be kind to me because I intend to write it? And he's taking that literally.” —Matt Chorley (21:47)

8. Kamala Harris on Trump’s Authoritarianism and the End of the Biden Era

• Kuenssberg to Harris: Is Trump a fascist? Harris says yes, citing weaponization of the DOJ, use of federal agencies for political retribution, and attacks on the press.
• Panel weighs in: These moves are undeniable, but voters endorsed them—“She predicted it and voters voted for him anyways." (26:44)
• Biden’s decline and Harris's role: Harris is pressed on what she did (or didn’t do) about Biden’s apparent unfitness to run—she admits considering warning him not to seek re-election but did not act.
• Pro-Palestinian protests: These dog Harris’s book tour and are likely to hurt her standing in any future Democratic primary.

Quotes:

• Kamala Harris: “I was asked if he was a fascist and I said yes. And the reason is, I look at what is happening right now and again, it is what I predicted. He said he would weaponize the Department of Justice. He has done exactly that.” [25:05]
• “If it was a cover up, it wasn't a very good one since all of us were talking about how Joe Biden was too old to be president.” —Anthony Zurcher (28:07)
• “She didn't have a lane to run in...she wasn't left enough to compete with Bernie Sanders, and she wasn't the centrist candidate because Joe Biden had that locked down.” —Anthony Zurcher (31:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s construction at the White House:
  “He finds a way. No one has any kind of grounds to stop it. He operates in kind of breaking norms, but he does it. And then no one can really say no.” —Anthony Zurcher (07:37)
• On Bannon’s third term speculation:
  “If you’re really super keen Trump liking lawyer, you can find some wiggle room there.” —Matt Chorley (10:26)
• On Kamala Harris’s likely 2028 candidacy:
  “Once you run for president…you never let that go.” —Anthony Zurcher (15:33)
• On White House website updates:
  “It’s Donald Trump and the Republicans in the White House trolling Democrats.” —Anthony Zurcher (22:12)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [01:57] – Anthony Zurcher reports live from Tokyo on Trump’s Asia tour
• [04:01] – Trump’s comments and controversy over the White House ballroom
• [05:53] – Is the project legal? The White House’s exemption from historic preservation law
• [09:06] – Steve Bannon floats a third term for Trump, constitutional debate begins
• [14:11] – Laura Kuenssberg interviews Kamala Harris on 2028 prospects
• [22:12] – Analysis of changes to the official White House website
• [25:05] – Kamala Harris calls Trump a fascist; discussion on authoritarianism
• [28:07] – Harris on Biden’s decline, her own inaction, and Democratic party struggles
• [31:04] – The challenges of Harris finding a “lane” in a future primary

Final Thoughts and Dynamics

The episode captures the turbulent unpredictability of US politics in 2025: a president upending both policy and precedent, a Democratic party lost in transition, and would-be challengers searching for elusive lanes to power. Wit, banter, and sharp historical insights pepper the conversation. For listeners new to the show, Americast offers an essential primer on the undercurrents shaping the American political landscape.