Trump and the Prospect of a Third Term: “There Are Ways”

In an interview with NBC on Sunday, March 30, Donald Trump once again hinted at the possibility of seeking a third presidential term in 2028, despite the prohibition imposed by the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. “I’m not joking,” he insisted, claiming that “a lot of people” wanted him to stay in power. During the phone interview, the U.S. president mentioned several ways to bypass this restriction without providing specifics. When asked whether he was considering a strategy involving his vice president, JD Vance, who could take office and then step aside for him, Trump simply responded, “That’s one way, but there are others.”

Recurring Statements, Growing Controversy

This is not the first time Donald Trump has suggested extending his time in the White House. Last November, shortly after his re-election, he told a group of Republicans in Washington: “I suppose I won’t run again—unless you all say, ‘He’s so good, we need to find a way.’” A few months earlier, during his campaign, he had sparked outrage by declaring that if he won, Americans “wouldn’t have to vote” after 2028.

However, amending the Constitution to remove the two-term limit would be extremely difficult. It would require either approval from two-thirds of Congress or support from two-thirds of the states to convene a constitutional convention, followed by ratification by three-quarters of the states—an unlikely scenario.

To date, Franklin Delano Roosevelt is the only U.S. president to have served more than two terms, having been elected four times before his death in 1945. The 22nd Amendment was introduced in 1951 specifically to prevent such a situation from happening again. Despite these obstacles, Donald Trump appears determined to keep speculation about his political future alive.