Here's a series of hypotheticals to consider. Does the 22nd prohibit none of these from happening - or all of them? If it prevents some but not others, which ones and why?
1. Trump and Vance announce in 2027 that they are running in 2028 but in flipped roles: Vance as the President and Trump as the VP on the ticket. They are open about the fact that the plan is for Vance to step down immediately after being sworn in, so that Trump becomes President again, and that's what they do.
2. Trump and Vance announce in 2027 that they are running in 2028 but in flipped roles: Vance as the President and Trump as the VP on the ticket. No one says anything about Vance intending to step down. Three months after being elected, Vance steps down voluntarily, citing health/mental issues, and Trump becomes President again.
3. Trump and Vance announce in 2027 that they are running in 2028 but in flipped roles: Vance as the President and Trump as the VP on the ticket. They repeatedly and openly say that there is no intent for Trump to become President again. Three months after being elected, Vance steps down voluntarily, citing health/mental issues, and Trump becomes President again.
4. Trump and Vance announce in 2027 that they are running in 2028 but in flipped roles: Vance as the President and Trump as the VP on the ticket. They repeatedly and openly say that there is no intent for Trump to become President again. One year after being elected, Vance is assassinated by someone who says he wants Trump to be President again, and Trump becomes President again.
5. Trump and Vance announce in 2027 that they are running in 2028 but in flipped roles: Vance as the President and Trump as the VP on the ticket. They repeatedly and openly say that there is no intent for Trump to become President again. One year after being elected, Vance dies of natural causes, and Trump becomes President again.
6. Trump doesn't run for President or VP in 2028, but runs for and is elected to a Florida House seat. During the campaign, the Republican candidate for VP/Pres, and Trump, all say that the plan - assuming they win all necessary races - is for Trump to be elected speaker of the house, the Pres/VP to immediately step aside, and Trump to become president again. They win all necessary elections, VP/Pres step aside, and Trump becomes President again.
7. Trump doesn't run for President or VP in 2028, but runs for and is elected to a Florida House seat and then becomes speaker of the house. No one says anything about President/VP intending to step down. Three months after being elected, Pres and VP step down voluntarily, citing health/mental issues, and Trump becomes President again.
8. Trump doesn't run for President or VP in 2028, but runs for and is elected to a Florida House seat and then becomes speaker of the house. Everyone repeatedly and openly says that there is no intent for Trump to become President again. Three months after being elected, Pres and VP step down voluntarily, citing health/mental issues, and Trump becomes President again.
9. Trump doesn't run for President or VP in 2028, but runs for and is elected to a Florida House seat and then becomes speaker of the house. Everyone repeatedly and openly says that there is no intent for Trump to become President again. One year after being elected, Pres and VP are assassinated by someone who says he wants Trump to be President again, and Trump becomes President again.
10. Trump doesn't run for President or VP in 2028, but runs for and is elected to a Florida House seat and then becomes speaker of the house. Everyone repeatedly and openly says that there is no intent for Trump to become President again. One year after being elected, Pres and VP are tragically killed in a crash of Air Force One, and Trump becomes President again.