Former President Donald Trump has hinted that he may seek a third term in the White House—if he can find what he believes might be a “loophole” in the U.S. Constitution.
In an interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker on Sunday, March 30, Trump claimed he wasn’t joking about the possibility of running again in 2028, suggesting that there may be ways to legally bypass the established two-term limit.
As it stands, the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution explicitly bars any individual from being elected president more than twice. It states:
“No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice…” and outlines additional restrictions for those who have assumed the presidency mid-term.
Despite this clear wording, Trump believes there may be alternate routes to regaining power. “A lot of people want me to stay,” he asserted, adding that there are “methods” that could allow him to do so.
Welker floated the hypothetical scenario that Trump’s current running mate, Senator JD Vance, could eventually run for president himself and, if elected, appoint Trump as vice president. If Vance then resigned, Trump could theoretically ascend to the presidency once again. Trump acknowledged the idea: “That’s one.”
“But there are others too,” he added cryptically, without revealing more.
Though Trump emphasized he was focused on his current campaign, he didn’t rule out extending his time in office, stating, “I like working. I’m not joking. But it’s far too early to think about that.”
Trump previously hinted at the possibility of a third term during a closed-door Republican meeting in November, shortly after defeating Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. According to The New York Times, he remarked, “I suspect I won’t be running again, unless you say, ‘He’s so good, we’ve got to figure something else out.’”
At a National Rifle Association event in May 2023, he posed another question to supporters: “I don’t know—are we considered a two-term or three-term presidency if we win again?”
As speculation swirls, one thing is certain: Donald Trump is once again challenging conventional political boundaries—just as he’s done since first entering the arena.