President Donald Trump has once again toyed with the idea of extending his White House stay, admitting Wednesday he’d “love” to seek a third term but quickly conceding the U.S. Constitution blocks it. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to South Korea, Trump lamented,
“My numbers are the highest ever. But I guess I’m not allowed to run. It’s too bad.”
The 79-year-old Republican has flirted with 2028 speculation for months, fueling supporter excitement and critic alarm.
His latest quip “We’ll see what happens” came amid record-high poll ratings, though he soon added, “It’s pretty clear” the 22nd Amendment limiting presidents to two terms stands firm.
Trump began his second term in January 2025. The 2016–2021 stint ended in controversy, but his return has reignited MAGA fervor, with fans waving “Trump 2028” hats at rallies.
Bannon’s “Plan” Fuels Fire
The chatter escalated last week when Steve Bannon, Trump’s ex-strategist and MAGA podcaster, claimed “there is a plan” to keep him in power.
“Trump will be president in ’28. Get used to it,” Bannon told The Economist.
Asked about the 22nd Amendment, Bannon dodged:
“Alternatives exist. We’ll reveal them at the right time.”
Bannon, a Project 2025 architect, has long pushed constitutional workarounds, like state conventions or emergency powers. His words echoed Trump’s Oval Office display of “Trump 2028” caps on the Resolute Desk.
One fan theory: VP JD Vance runs in 2028 with Trump as “co-president.” Trump dismissed it this week as “too cute”.
Johnson: Constitution Can’t Bend
House Speaker Mike Johnson shut down the buzz Tuesday, after chatting with Trump.
“We’ve discussed it. He knows the 22nd Amendment binds us,” Johnson told reporters.
Changing it? “Takes 10 years,” he explained. Two-thirds of Congress plus three-fourths of states must approve a mountain too high.
Johnson, a Trump ally, called the talk “teasing Democrats” but stressed “no path exists”.
Why Trump Keeps Talking Third Terms
Trump’s third-term flirtation isn’t new. In 2018, he lauded China’s Xi Jinping for “president for life” status, joking, “Maybe we’ll try that someday.” In 2024 rallies, chants of “Four more years” prompted him to quip, “Say 12 more years!”
The tease keeps media buzzing, rallies packed, and opponents off-balance. But experts dismiss it as “attention-grabbing” the Constitution’s ironclad.
What’s Next for 2028?
Trump pivoted:
“We have great people” for the future.
His inner circle eyes Vance, Marco Rubio, or Ron DeSantis for 2028. Bannon’s “plan” may fizzle, but Trump’s shadow looms large.
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