President Donald Trump has declared that he’s “not joking” about the possibility of serving a third term in the White House. Speaking with NBC’s Kristen Welker in a Sunday morning phone call, Trump, 78, insisted that “a lot of people want me to do it” and hinted at a possible legal loophole to make it happen.
According to Trump, there are “methods” to circumvent the 22nd Amendment, which limits a president to two terms. One of those methods, he suggested, involves his current Vice President, JD Vance, running for president in 2028 with Trump as his VP. If elected, Vance could then resign, allowing Trump to reclaim the presidency. “But there are others too,” Trump teased, without offering further details.
Trump, who carried all seven swing states in the last election, has long floated the idea of extending his time in office, though many initially dismissed it as political trolling. However, recent chants of “four more years!” at his rallies suggest that a significant number of supporters are on board with the idea.
The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951 after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s unprecedented four terms, states that “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” However, Trump’s suggested strategy could technically navigate around this restriction by having Vance resign, opening the door for Trump to step in.
“I like working,” Trump explained when asked why he would consider staying in office until 2033. “I’m not joking. But I’m not—it is far too early to think about it.”
As history has shown, the U.S. presidency has seen older leaders before. Konrad Adenauer, the German chancellor, remained in power until the age of 87. If Trump were to serve a hypothetical third term, he would be close to that age by the time he left office.
Meanwhile, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) has introduced a constitutional amendment to officially allow Trump to seek a third term. However, given that such an amendment would require two-thirds approval in Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states, it remains highly unlikely.
With political tensions running high, Trump’s latest remarks are certain to ignite fierce debate. Is this just another Trumpian media spectacle, or is there a real pathway to a historic third term? Only time will tell.
