Trump says he’s ‘not joking’ about potential third presidential term

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday stated that he is “not joking” about the possibility of seeking a third term in office, despite the constitutional two-term limit.

The comments were made in a phone interview with NBC News, marking his clearest indication yet that he may consider a third bid.

“There are methods which you could do it,” Trump told NBC when asked to clarify earlier remarks. He declined to elaborate on those methods, adding only that it was “far too early to think about it.”

Constitutional barriers to a third term

The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits any individual from being elected to the presidency more than twice.

Section 1

No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.”

Section 2

“This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.

22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution

Amending the constitution would require:

• A two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate, or
• Support from two-thirds of state legislatures to call a constitutional convention, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the states.

Both paths are considered highly unlikely under the current political composition of Congress and state governments.

Trump references possible scenario involving Vice President

Trump acknowledged that one scenario being discussed involves Vice President JD Vance running for president and then stepping down to allow Trump to assume office again. “That’s one,” Trump said, adding, “there are others,” without disclosing further details.

In January, shortly after Trump returned to office for his second, non-consecutive term, Republican Rep. Andy Ogles introduced a House resolution aimed at amending the constitution to allow presidents to serve up to three terms.

The resolution has not advanced in the current session.

To date, no U.S. president has served more than two elected terms since the 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951.