President Donald Trump has once again ignited a political firestorm by floating the idea of a third term, despite the clear restrictions of the U.S. Constitution’s 22nd Amendment. In a recent NBC News interview, Trump spoke at length about the possibility, stating, “there are methods which you could do it.” This is not the first time he has broached the subject—far from it. Over the years, he has repeatedly entertained the idea, sometimes jokingly, sometimes seriously, and often in a way that leaves his true intentions open to interpretation.
So, is Trump just trolling his critics, as his allies claim, or is this the early groundwork for a deeper challenge to democratic norms?
The Constitutional Roadblock
The U.S. Constitution is clear on this matter:
"No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice..." — 22nd Amendment
To serve a third term, Trump would need an amendment to the Constitution, which requires a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate and ratification by three-fourths of the states. The likelihood of such an amendment passing is effectively zero.
Even Trump-friendly Republicans have largely dismissed the notion, with Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) pointing out, “We all know that you’d have to change the Constitution, and that would be highly unlikely.”
Despite this, Trump’s continued references to a third term, even in passing, keep the idea alive in the public consciousness.
A Pattern of Testing Boundaries
Trump’s latest comments on Air Force One—where he claimed “so many people are saying you’ve got to run again”—suggest that he enjoys playing with the idea, even if he’s not outright pushing for it. But it fits into a broader pattern of Trump’s presidency, where he consistently tests the limits of norms, institutions, and legal frameworks.
While some argue that his third-term talk is just political theater, others see it as part of a slow erosion of democratic guardrails.
The Political Calculus: Trolling or Strategy?
Trump’s supporters, including White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, argue that the media is overreacting.
“Look, you guys continue to ask the president this question about a third term, and then he answers honestly and candidly with a smile, and then everybody here melts down about his answer.”
But the fact remains: Trump has volunteered the idea of a third term multiple times without being prompted.
At a Black History Month event, he asked attendees if he should run again.
During a St. Patrick’s Day gathering, he joked about hosting the Irish prime minister “at least three more times.”
His former strategist Steve Bannon has openly talked about Trump running again in 2028.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) has even proposed an amendment to allow Trump to run again.
At what point does “just joking” become a strategic soft launch of an actual plan?
Could There Be a Legal Loophole?
Some Trump allies have speculated that he could return as vice president and take over if the president resigns. This is legally untested territory, and the 12th and 22nd Amendments create some contradictions. While the 22nd Amendment prohibits someone from being elected president more than twice, it doesn’t explicitly say they can’t assume the presidency through the line of succession.
Would the courts allow it? It’s uncertain. But what is certain is that Trump and his allies have a track record of pushing legal boundaries as far as possible.
Should Democrats and Republicans Take It Seriously?
For now, many in Washington are shrugging off Trump’s comments. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) summed up the prevailing attitude:
“It’s a different outrage every day... if we allow him to, like a matador with a bull, distract us this way and that way every single day, no one will know what we stand for and what we’re fighting for.”
Democratic strategists like Jim Kessler argue that engaging with Trump’s third-term talk is a waste of time and a distraction from real issues like the economy and inflation.
However, history has shown that Trump’s “jokes” often foreshadow his actual plans. He joked about contesting the 2020 election long before it happened. He joked about using executive power in unprecedented ways before doing exactly that.
Ignoring the possibility entirely could be a mistake.
Final Thoughts
Whether Trump is trolling the media, rallying his base, or planting the seeds for a real constitutional challenge, his repeated third-term talk is more than just a casual remark. It’s part of a broader pattern of eroding democratic norms and testing public reaction to ideas once thought unthinkable.
