Let’s get one thing out of the way: under the U.S. Constitution, a president can only serve two terms. That’s what the 22nd Amendment says, plain and simple. But here’s the problem—Donald Trump keeps talking like the rules don’t apply to him.
And lately, he doesn’t sound like he’s kidding.
Trump Says He’s “Not Joking” About a Third Term
In a recent phone interview with NBC News, Trump doubled down on the idea of running for a third term. “There are methods,” he said cryptically, offering no specifics. He’s made similar comments before, but this time, the tone was different. He sounded serious. Like he’s actually thinking through how to make it happen.
On Air Force One, he told reporters, “We have almost four years to go and that’s a long time, but despite that, so many people are saying ‘You’ve got to run again.’ They love the job we’re doing.”
This isn’t your average Trump bluster. It’s part of a bigger pattern—one that should raise alarms for anyone paying attention to the health of American democracy.
Testing the Unthinkable—Again
We’ve seen this before. Trump floats something outrageous—whether it’s delaying the election, invoking martial law, or now, a third term—and then watches how the public and political system react. It’s a tactic. He normalizes the unthinkable.
As Susan Glasser of The New Yorker put it, “Don’t underestimate Donald Trump’s willingness not only to socialize the unthinkable in American politics, but actually to act on it.”
After all, this is the same man who tried to pressure Vice President Mike Pence into overturning the 2020 election results—a move based on unconstitutional legal theories. That didn’t work, but it shows just how far Trump is willing to push.
Looking Abroad for Inspiration
Trump’s fascination with authoritarian leaders is well-documented. He’s praised China’s Xi Jinping as “president for life,” expressed admiration for Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and watched leaders like Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan bend the rules to stay in power.
When Putin couldn’t serve a third consecutive term, he simply became Prime Minister and continued pulling the strings. Trump sees these moves not as cautionary tales, but as blueprints.
Legal Hurdles Be Damned?
To actually change the 22nd Amendment and allow a third term, you’d need two-thirds of Congress and 38 states to sign off. That’s nearly impossible in today’s political climate. But Trump’s allies are still throwing ideas around.
Steve Bannon, Trump’s former strategist, told Chris Cuomo on NewsNation that plans are in motion. “I’m a firm believer that President Trump will run and win again in 2028,” Bannon said. When asked how, given the constitutional roadblock, he responded: “We’re working on it.”
He didn’t elaborate, but that kind of talk isn’t just provocative—it’s a threat to the rule of law.
The Flawed “Workarounds”
Several ideas are being floated behind the scenes, and all of them are riddled with constitutional landmines.
1. Reinterpreting the 22nd Amendment
Some Trump allies suggest that because Trump’s terms weren’t consecutive, the amendment might not apply. But the text is crystal clear: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” There’s no wiggle room. Legal experts call this idea nonsense.
2. Becoming Vice President and Then Ascending
Another fantasy scenario is that Trump could run as a VP alongside someone like JD Vance. Once they win, the president resigns, and Trump takes over. But the 12th Amendment blocks this: someone ineligible to be president also can’t be vice president.
3. Becoming Speaker of the House and Climbing the Ladder
This one’s pure political sci-fi. Trump becomes Speaker, then both the president and VP step down. Boom—President Trump again. But this would require total, coordinated control of the House, White House, and full party obedience. Far-fetched? Yes. Impossible? Not entirely, and that’s the scary part.
The Republican Party: Enablers or Safeguards?
This is where it gets real. While some Republicans, like Rep. Ryan Zinke of Montana, say they’d oppose any constitutional change to allow a third term, many others have been noticeably silent—or worse, complicit.
Trump isn’t doing this in a vacuum. He’s testing how far he can push the envelope, and watching to see who pushes back. So far, resistance within the GOP has been weak.
Rep. Dan Goldman, a Democrat from New York, previously tried to get Congress to reaffirm the two-term limit, but the effort fizzled. Now he warns that “Republicans are waging an all-out attack on the Judiciary to clear the way for Trump to serve a third term.”
Why This Matters Right Now
There’s still time left in Trump’s second term, and a lot of attention is on economic pain points like inflation and interest rates. That’s where Democrats like Tim Ryan believe the party should focus. But Ryan also acknowledges the third-term talk is “serious,” and Trump “is capable of doing it.”
What makes this especially dangerous is Trump’s obsession with control. As CNN presidential historian Tim Naftali pointed out, Trump uses fear—of China, of immigrants, of economic collapse—as a policy weapon. Talking about a third term isn’t just ego. It’s a strategic move to stay relevant, powerful, and immune from the consequences of losing power.
Bottom Line
We’re not in normal political territory anymore. The idea of a third Trump term, once laughable, is now part of the national conversation—because Trump wants it to be.
His words matter. So do the words of those around him. And the more this idea circulates, the more it becomes normalized. That’s how erosion of democracy begins—not with a bang, but with a shrug.
The 22nd Amendment still stands. But whether the guardrails of the Constitution can hold against someone hellbent on testing them is up to how loudly the American people and their representatives push back.
Because here’s the truth: if Trump runs again—and wins—don’t assume he’ll be eager to leave next time either.
