Former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again alluded to the possibility of seeking a third term in office, despite the constitutional prohibition against such a move.
Currently serving what is constitutionally mandated as his final four-year term, Trump is restricted by the 22nd Amendment, which explicitly prevents any individual from being elected to the presidency more than twice. The National Constitution Center states that the amendment reads: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.”
Despite this restriction, Trump has hinted at potential avenues that could allow him to seek office again. While previous remarks on the subject were often delivered with an air of levity, his recent statements suggest a more serious consideration of possible mechanisms that could enable his return to the presidency.
In an interview with NBC News on March 30, Trump stated, “A lot of people want me to do it. But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, it’s very early in the administration.” When pressed on the possibility of a third-term candidacy, the former president responded, “I like working. I’m not joking. But I’m not—it is far too early to think about it,” while also acknowledging the existence of “methods” that could make such a scenario possible.
One proposed strategy involves Vice President JD Vance running for office and subsequently transferring authority to Trump. Trump confirmed this as one of the potential approaches but refrained from elaborating on additional possibilities.
Aiding these discussions is a newly introduced legislative proposal by U.S. Representative Andy Ogles, who has suggested amending the 22nd Amendment. His proposed change seeks to modify the existing language to allow an individual to be elected president up to three times and to extend eligibility for additional terms beyond two consecutive presidencies. Should such an amendment be ratified, it could pave the way for Trump to remain in office until 2032.
The prospect of such a constitutional change remains speculative, as any amendment to the U.S. Constitution would require substantial legislative approval and widespread public support.
