Former President Donald Trump has once again floated the idea of a third term in the White House, despite the constitutional ban on serving more than two.
In a Sunday interview with NBC News, Trump suggested there are “methods” that could allow him to return to power after 2028, emphasizing that he was “not joking.”
“A lot of people want me to do it,” Trump said. “But … my thinking is, we have a long way to go. I’m focused on the current.”
The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, clearly states: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” However, Trump hinted at possible workarounds, with NBC’s Kristen Welker referencing a strategy in which Vice President JD Vance could run in 2028 and later “pass the baton” to Trump. “Well, that’s one. But there are others too,” Trump responded, declining to elaborate.
His comments add fuel to speculation that allies in Congress may push for an amendment to the Constitution. Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles has already introduced legislation to allow a president who serves nonconsecutive terms to run for a third time—worded in a way that would exclude two-term presidents like Barack Obama.
Is a Third Term Possible?
Legal experts say the chances of overturning the 22nd Amendment are slim. Amending the Constitution requires approval from two-thirds of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of U.S. states.
Michael Waldman, president of the Brennan Center for Justice, dismissed Trump’s hints outright. “It’s illegal. He has no chance. That’s all there is to say,” he told CNN.
At the end of his second term in 2029, Trump would be 82 years old—setting a new record as the oldest U.S. president. But if he finds a way to return in 2032, he’d break even more historical barriers.
