Donald Trump stirs constitutional debate with playful hints about a third presidential term, despite the 22nd Amendment’s clear prohibition against serving more than two terms as president.
Key Insights
- Trump is selling “Trump 2028” merchandise despite constitutional barriers to serving a third term.
- Constitutional experts confirm a third term would require an amendment to the 22nd Amendment, which is highly unlikely.
- Trump’s third-term talk effectively freezes potential 2028 Republican candidates like JD Vance, Marco Rubio, and Ron DeSantis.
- Trump has publicly stated it would be “very hard” to run for a third term and claims he’s not actively pursuing it.
- Republican leaders, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, have downplayed Trump’s comments as jokes.
Presidential Term Limits and Trump’s Hints
The Trump Organization has begun selling “Trump 2028” merchandise, raising eyebrows about the president’s future political ambitions. This marketing move comes despite the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which explicitly prohibits any person from being elected to the presidency more than twice. Trump himself has acknowledged this constitutional barrier, recently telling The Atlantic that seeking a third term would be “very hard” to achieve, though his comments maintain a playful ambiguity that keeps supporters and critics guessing.
Republican leaders have largely dismissed Trump’s third-term talk as humor rather than serious intent. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and other GOP senators have suggested the president is simply joking when he references a possible 2028 run. Despite this, Representative Andy Ogles has proposed a constitutional amendment that would allow presidents to serve three terms – though such a change would require two-thirds approval in both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures, an extremely challenging path forward.
President Donald Trump is now selling hats and shirts emblazoned with "Trump 2028" branding. His intent to seek a third term would challenge existing constitutional amendments prohibiting it. https://t.co/BfBphGdOJ7
— ABC 10News San Diego (@10News) April 25, 2025
Strategic Political Maneuvering
Political analysts suggest Trump’s ambiguous stance on a third term serves multiple strategic purposes. By keeping his name in the 2028 conversation, Trump effectively freezes the field of potential Republican candidates who would be reluctant to position themselves as successors while Trump remains politically active. This political limbo particularly affects figures like Vice President JD Vance and former Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, both of whom would need Trump’s blessing to mount credible campaigns.
“He’s not going to run for another term. Don’t underestimate the degree to which he believes any Trump-centered noise is good, because it starves his opponents.” – Newt Gingrich
Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon has been more direct about Trump’s influence, suggesting that any Republican who attempted to run against Trump’s wishes would face “total and complete rejection” from the MAGA base. This creates a waiting game for ambitious Republicans, with none willing to be the first to break ranks. Trump benefits from this dynamic by maintaining his position as the party’s central figure even as he approaches the constitutional limit on his time in office.
Constitutional Loopholes and Future Scenarios
Some Trump supporters have speculated about potential constitutional loopholes that might allow Trump to remain in power beyond two terms. One scenario involves Trump running as vice president on a ticket headed by JD Vance, with Vance then resigning to make Trump president again. However, this arrangement raises significant constitutional questions about the interaction between the 22nd Amendment and the 12th Amendment, which states that no person constitutionally ineligible to be president can serve as vice president.
“If I do really well for the next four years, everything else will take care of itself. Now, like, yeah, in two and a half years, will that become harder? Will people be more focused on politics than on what the White House is maybe doing that particular day? Maybe.” – JD Vance
For his part, Trump has publicly dismissed using constitutional loopholes to extend his presidency, while still keeping the discussion alive through merchandise and occasional comments. The appearance of “Trump 2028” hats, including one worn by Eric Trump, adds fuel to the speculation. Political observers note that Trump is likely to delay any definitive statements about his future plans for as long as possible, allowing him to maintain maximum influence within the Republican Party while avoiding being seen as a lame duck.
Sources:
- No, Trump Cannot Run for Re-election Again in 2028
- Trump’s third-term talk freezes the potential 2028 Republican field
- Trump Says It Would Be ‘Very Hard’ to Run for Third Term
