President Donald Trump Is Dead Serious When Asked About Plans to Seek a Third Term in Office

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President Donald Trump says he’s “not joking” about seeking a third term in office, a move that would violate the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. In a weekend interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker, Trump hinted at undisclosed legal “methods” that could make such a run possible. “A lot of people want me to do it,” Trump said. “There are methods which you could do it, as you know.” When pressed, he declined to elaborate but acknowledged that the idea is being taken seriously within his circle.

Among the possibilities discussed was a hypothetical scenario where Vice President JD Vance runs in 2028 and hands off the presidency. Trump confirmed that was “one” option but added, “There are others too.” However, the 22nd Amendment clearly limits any individual to two terms as president. Yet, Trump and some Republican allies are now floating ways to navigate around that barrier, legally or otherwise.

Republicans Float a Radical Rewrite of the Rules

It didn’t take long for Trump supporters to act. Just days into his second term, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) proposed an amendment to the Constitution that would make Trump eligible for a third term, arguing that the nation needs his continued leadership. At present, any such change would require supermajorities in both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures. That’s an almost impossible hurdle in today’s political climate. But the fact that the amendment was introduced at all shows how far some within the GOP are willing to go.

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon has also stoked the movement. At a December dinner in New York, he asked supporters, “Are you ready for Trump ’28?” He and others have floated fringe legal theories, including a loophole based on the word “elected” in the 22nd Amendment that might allow Trump to ascend to office again without technically being elected.

However, constitutional scholars largely reject those interpretations. The 12th Amendment complicates any plan involving a Trump vice presidency, since it bars anyone ineligible to serve as president from being elected vice president. “You’d have to have so many pieces fall into place for this even to be practically viable,” said Derek Muller, an election law expert at Notre Dame. “On top of that, it rests on a shaky legal theory.”

Why Trump Keeps Pushing the Third Term Narrative

Trump has teased the idea of serving beyond two terms for years, often as a joke at rallies. But this is the first time he has openly admitted he’s considering it. So why now? Part of the strategy could be psychological. By floating the possibility early, Trump keeps his base energized and his opponents unsettled. It also puts pressure on Republican lawmakers to fall in line, knowing that Trump’s popularity remains sky-high in conservative circles.

According to Trump, “the people” want him to stay, and he continues to cite unnamed polls claiming historic levels of support. Whether that support extends to rewriting the Constitution is another matter. The White House insists it’s too early to think about 2028, but the president’s repeated mentions of a third term suggest it’s very much on his mind.

A Challenge to the Rule of Law?

The timing of Trump’s comments also matters. He made them just as his administration ramps up global tariffs, threatens secondary sanctions, and wields executive power aggressively in foreign affairs. The suggestion of pursuing a third term adds yet another challenge to the established rule of law.

The 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951 after Franklin D. Roosevelt served four terms, and it was championed by Republicans who feared excessive executive power. Now, that same party appears divided over whether the rules should apply to Trump. For many critics, the message is clear: this isn’t just political theater. It’s a stress test on the system itself.

Do you support President Donald Trump’s bid to govern for a third term? Let us know what you think!

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