Interview with The Atlantic, President Donald Trump offered a vague and playful response to rumors about him seeking a third term — despite the clear constitutional barrier that prevents it. His answer has only fueled more speculation, especially after his team began selling “Trump 2028” merchandise.
While discussing the possibility of a third term, Trump acknowledged that it would be a monumental challenge, but he stopped short of completely dismissing the idea. “That would be a big shattering, wouldn’t it?” he joked. “Well, maybe I’m just trying to shatter.” He continued, noting that while some of his supporters are eager for him to make a third bid, he personally isn’t actively pursuing it. “It’s not something that I’m looking to do. And I think it would be a very hard thing to do,” he added.
This comes just days after the Trump Organization launched a line of “Trump 2028” hats and T-shirts, with the slogan “The future looks bright!” on the merchandise. The description also encourages customers to “rewrite the rules,” which only adds fuel to the fire of rumors surrounding Trump’s political future.
When asked about the items last week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted that a third term wasn’t something Trump was considering. However, she did admit that the “Trump 2028” hats were selling quickly, much to the amusement of many.
The idea of a third term is legally complicated, as the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits a president from serving more than two terms. Changing this would require approval from both the House of Representatives and the Senate, along with ratification by three-quarters of the state governments.
Despite these legal obstacles, Trump has repeatedly refused to rule out the possibility of a 2028 run. Just last month, he told NBC News that “there are methods which you could do it,” alluding to the possibility of altering the political landscape — though he continues to make unfounded claims about his 2020 election loss.
While the former president has been able to maintain the spotlight with these remarks, his approval ratings have taken a hit. Recent polls show his approval at a historic low for any president in their first 100 days, with just 39% of Americans expressing approval of his current political standing.
