Associated Press
President Donald Trump said Sunday that “I’m not joking” about trying to serve a third term, the clearest indication he is considering ways to breach a constitutional barrier against continuing to lead the country after his second term ends in early 2029.
“There are methods which you could do it,” Trump said in a telephone interview with NBC News.
He also said “it is far too early to think about it.”
The 22nd Amendment, which was added to the Constitution in 1951 after President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected four times in a row, says “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
NBC’s Kristen Welker asked Trump if one potential avenue to a third term was having Vice President JD Vance run for the top job and “then pass the baton to you.”
“Well, that’s one,” Trump responded. “But there are others too. There are others.”
“Can you tell me another?” Welker asked.
“No,” Trump replied.
Vance’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
Trump, who would be 82 at the end of his second term, was asked whether he would want to keep serving in “the toughest job in the country” at that point.
“Well, I like working,” the president said.
He suggested that Americans would go along with a third term because of his popularity. He falsely claimed to have “the highest poll numbers of any Republican for the last 100 years.”
Gallup data shows President George W. Bush reaching a 90% approval rating after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. His father, President George H.W. Bush, hit 89% following the Gulf War in 1991.
Trump has maxed out at 47% in Gallup data during his second term, despite claiming to be “in the high 70s in many polls, in the real polls.”
Trump has mused before about serving longer than two terms before, generally with jokes to friendly audiences.
“Am I allowed to run again?” he said during a House Republican retreat in January.
13 comments
Ruggero Mameli
March 30, 2025 at 2:32 pm
Well, I’m sure Trump is not kidding about the third term and, as the constitution clearly states that third mandates are not contemplated, one of the methods, most probably, will be to invade Greenland and in times of war there will not be new elections. Look at Netanyahu , he is pulverizing Gaza, which is already demolished but he needs to go ahead in order to stay in power. This way, the dictatorship, will be somehow justified. We have very scary times ahead of us.
KathrynA
March 30, 2025 at 2:59 pm
You’re probably right and our country and Constitution are being destroyed rapidly in the first 3 months of this term.
Michael K
March 30, 2025 at 3:38 pm
Elect a clown, expect a circus. A most unserious, insecure and incompetent petty tyrant who only knows how to create chaos and division.
The Trump economy sure is wrecking retirement accounts and driving up higher inflation as he alienates our allies and partners worldwide. Putin is quite pleased with his poodle.
PeterH
March 30, 2025 at 3:55 pm
Today’s MAGA crowd often indulges in magical thinking, hourly crisis management, clown theatrics and of course conspiracy theories. Achievements for the American people is far far from their objective…… they utilize DEI complaints to distract from their total chaos and incompetence.
Peachy
March 30, 2025 at 4:13 pm
He won’t get a third term. The Tesla bombers are far too easy to mess with. Trump is a disrupter and disruption is exactly what this highly bloated and inefficient government needs. You Demos look silly rallying for bloated inefficiencies at our expense.
Earl Pitts "SAGE PATRIOT" American
March 30, 2025 at 5:30 pm
Thank you, Peachy, for your Sage Wisdom regarding the desperate Political “LOOSER SNOOZER” situation analysis of the “Dook 4 Brains Left”.
They really are an Annoyance and Embarasment to All of America.
Now is the time to crush them … carry on Sir!
BTW if you are the “Reformed Rick Whittaker” then I, Earl Pitts “SAGE PATRIOT” American, take 110% credit in turning you from bad to “Sage Patriot”,
Earl Pitts “SAGE PATRIOT” American
Victoria Olson
March 30, 2025 at 8:27 pm
Trump will be thrown out of office before a 3rd election for Treason, we are a Democracy not an FASCIST NAZI nation & Trump is not a king or Dictator. You will see every Republican that backs trump will lose their re-election. Americans are angry & protesting trumps admin. Trying to end the agencies that help Americans.
Peachy
March 30, 2025 at 8:37 pm
Federal jobs are not permanent positions Victoria. The country is broke and can not continue to lose money and provide stay at home jobs for Federal employees. Where was your outrage when banks, auto makers, airlines, etc furloughed and restructured their business models?
cassandra was right
March 30, 2025 at 10:52 pm
“Where was your outrage when banks, auto makers, airlines, etc furloughed and restructured their business models?”
What are you talking about? Did FOX tell you there’s no “outrage” from Democrats/ the Left when corporations collect record profits and government handouts, then lay-off workers? What a stupid comment! Turn off FOX News!
TallyEagle
March 31, 2025 at 8:32 am
We are a “Republic!” Not a “democracy.”
Nurse Nancy
March 30, 2025 at 9:37 pm
I feel endeared, but sad for peachy, Earl, and others who are willing to give up US mail service, Medicare, Medicaid, evidence-based medicine, veterans benefits, defense secrets, for a demented, confused, Belicose, angry, cruel felon with a chainsaw, hacksaw sidekick who was not elected.NN
Michael K
March 31, 2025 at 8:47 am
“I couldn’t care less if prices rise because of tariffs,” says the current president. And now, he’s looking at using taxpayer funds to bail out farmers – once again – for the hit they will take from tariffs. Socialism, Republican style, for self-inflicted wounds.
And people are willing to give him a second and possibly third term?
Stupid is as stupid as stupid does, I suppose.
James
April 1, 2025 at 12:16 am
The only way Trump can run in for President is to run as the vice-president and then if the President died Trump would become the President. That would be something the GOP running for President should think about. Trump for over 40 years has continue to believe he is above the law and nothing that Trump might do is off the table.