Donald Trump
Picnews
Donald Trump has seemingly ruled out a third-term bid, citing the constitutional limit imposed by the 22nd Amendment. The amendment clearly states that “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice”. Trump acknowledged this limitation, saying “it’s pretty clear” he can’t run again and calling it “too bad”. He made these comments while traveling to South Korea, adding that he currently has his highest poll numbers ever.
Trump’s comments come after his ally, House Speaker Mike Johnson, dismissed the possibility of a third term, stating that changing the Constitution would be a cumbersome, decade-long process requiring two-thirds support in the House and Senate, and ratification by 38 state legislatures. Johnson emphasized that Trump understands the constitutional constraints. Despite this, Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of a third term, with some of his supporters suggesting alternative strategies to bypass the constitutional limit.
One such strategy involves Trump running as vice president and then taking over the presidency, but Trump dismissed this idea as “too cute” and “not right”. Constitutional scholars are near-unanimous that the 22nd Amendment firmly bars Trump from being elected president a third time. They also largely dismiss the Vice Presidential loophole, citing the 12th Amendment, which states that a person constitutionally ineligible for the presidency is also ineligible for the Vice Presidency.
Trump’s ambiguous posture on 2028 casts a long shadow over the Republican landscape, where potential successors, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are waiting in the wings. Despite Trump’s comments, his supporters continue to fuel speculation about a potential third term, with some suggesting that Trump could run again in 2028 and serve another term.
