US President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that the US Constitution definitively prevents him from pursuing a third term in office, despite persistent calls from his devoted supporters. Trump’s highly publicized 2028 presidential aspirations repeatedly generate significant concern among his political foes while simultaneously eliciting cheers from his fervent base of backers.
Speaking while aboard Air Force One, the President explicitly expressed his disappointment with the constitutional restriction.
“I have my highest poll numbers that I have ever had,” Trump stated, “and based on what I read, I guess I am not allowed to run, so we will see what happens… It is too bad.”
The 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution clearly limits all presidents to just two terms in office, and Trump started his second term this past January. Nevertheless, Trump frequently mentions how his dedicated supporters continue advocating for him to govern beyond his current constitutional tenure.
Furthermore, the former reality TV star recently displayed several attention-grabbing red hats emblazoned with the “Trump 2028” slogan within the Oval Office.
Legal and Political Hurdles
House Speaker Mike Johnson addressed the media on Tuesday at a Capitol news conference, confirming he discussed seeking a third term with the sitting President. Johnson explicitly stated that he does not “see the path for that,” emphasizing their mutual understanding of the Constitution’s constrictions.
Specifically, Johnson referenced the 22nd Amendment, noting that although Trump enjoys taunting Democrats with “Trump 2028” slogans, the Constitution remains unambiguous.
He further explained that amending the foundational US document is highly impractical because the complex process typically takes approximately ten years. Johnson stressed the necessity for two-thirds of Congress and three-fourths of the states to ratify a constitutional amendment, concluding he simply does not “see the path for that.”
A prevalent theory circulating among supporters suggested Vice President JD Vance could seek the presidency on a potential 2028 ticket alongside Trump. However, Trump quickly ruled out that specific idea this week, clarifying on Wednesday that his inability to run again was “pretty clear.”
Bannon’s Unveiled ‘Plan’
Talk of a third term had significantly intensified last week after Steve Bannon, Trump’s former advisor and key ideologue of the Make America Great Again movement, publicly claimed “there is a plan.” Bannon boldly told The Economist that Trump “is going to get a third term,” asserting definitively that he will “be president in ’28.”
Consequently, when reporters questioned Bannon about the 22nd Amendment’s mandate for term limits, he vaguely replied that they possess “many different alternatives.” “At the appropriate time,” Bannon concluded, “we will lay out what the plan is” for keeping the former President in the White House.
