President Donald Trump told NBC’s Kristen Welker on Sunday that he’s “not joking” about a possible third term.
“A lot of people want me to do it,” he said, hinting at his allies. “But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go.”
“It’s very early in the administration,” he added.
“I’m focused on the current,” Trump said. Then he made it clear: “I’m not joking.”
“But I’m not — it is far too early to think about it,” he said.
Welker asked if he’d embraced plans for a third term. Trump said, “There are methods which you could do it.”
That would go against the 22nd Amendment. It states, “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
When asked if Vice President JD Vance could run and then hand the role over, Trump replied, “That’s one” method.
“But there are others, too,” he added. He didn’t explain what those might be.
Trump has hinted before at running again.
“I’ve raised a lot of money for the next race that I assume I can’t use for myself, but I’m not 100% sure,” he told House Republicans after winning in 2024. “I think I’m not allowed to run again.”
In November 2024, Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman introduced a resolution to reaffirm that two terms is the constitutional limit.
He also wanted to condemn Trump’s repeated talk about staying in office longer.
Goldman cited Trump’s own words: “I suspect I won’t be running again unless you say, ‘He’s so good we’ve got to figure something else out.’”
“The Constitution is clear,” Goldman said. “Any attempt for Donald Trump to circumvent the 22nd Amendment is blatantly unconstitutional.”
He urged both parties to honor their oath. He called on Congress to stand by the Constitution and make that commitment clear.