President Donald Trump acknowledged that the US Constitution prevents him from running for a third term, calling it “too bad,” despite his previous openness to the idea. House Speaker Mike Johnson also expressed that amending this constitutional restriction is highly unlikely, effectively ending talk of a third term for Trump.
Trump’s Statement on Third Term Eligibility
President Donald Trump, 79, spoke to journalists aboard Air Force One while en route from Japan to South Korea on Wednesday, expressing his disappointment over being barred from seeking a third presidential term. As reported by Adam Shaw of Al Jazeera, Trump said,
“If you read it, it’s pretty clear,”
referring to the 22nd Amendment,
“I’m not allowed to run. It’s bad.”
The president had earlier hinted at running again by saying he would “love to
do it,” but ultimately acknowledged the constitutional limit.
Trump reiterated, according to Sam Fossum of ABC News
, “I have my highest poll numbers that I’ve ever had, and, you know, based on what I read, I guess I’m not allowed to run. So, we’ll see what happens.”
Despite this, he praised other potential Republican candidates, saying,
“we have a lot of great people,”
indicating an acceptance of the situation.
Constitutional Restrictions on a Third Term
The 22nd Amendment of the US Constitution, ratified in 1951,
restricts any president from being elected more than twice. This clear legal
boundary has long been the obstacle to any third-term ambitions by a former
president. According to Aamer Madhani and Julie Tsirkin of CBS News, Trump has
toyed with the idea for months, at times hinting at methods or plans to pursue
a third term, though none have legally materialized.
Trump’s former adviser Steve Bannon mentioned a “plan” for a
potential third term in an interview last week, though details were sparse.
Trump himself was noncommittal about these plans on Monday but openly wore
“Trump 2028” hats on display in the Oval Office, signalling his political
ambitions in a symbolic way, as noted by reporters at The Washington Post.
Comments from House Speaker Mike Johnson
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), a close Trump ally, addressed the issue on Tuesday during a news conference on Capitol Hill. Johnson stated,
“It’s been an impressive run, but I believe the president understands the limitations set by the Constitution — even if many Americans wish it were different.”
He emphasized the impracticality of amending the constitution, remarking,
“I can’t envision a way to modify the Constitution since it typically takes around a decade to accomplish that… So, I don’t see a viable path for that,”
as per coverage by Washington Post’s Paul Kane and Colby
Itkowitz.
Johnson also acknowledged his conversations with Trump on
the matter but said they concluded that pursuing a third term would be
unfeasible. The speaker complimented the “Trump 2028” hat Trump likes to wear
and display but confirmed it was more a symbol than a realistic scenario.
Public and Political Context
Trump’s statements come amid his ongoing political activity
and significant public support within Republican circles. As reported by The
New York Times' Annie Karni and Maggie Haberman, Trump highlighted what he
described as the “best economy we’ve ever experienced” and his “highest numbers
that I’ve ever had,” despite political analysts pointing to a 43 percent
approval rating. His remarks underline his continued presence in US politics
and hint at future involvement, even if a presidential run in 2028 is
constitutionally barred.
Some political analysts have speculated on alternative paths, such as Trump running for vice president with a view to assuming power if the sitting president were to leave office. However, Trump dismissed such a strategy, calling it “too cute” and suggesting it would not be well-received by the public, a detail reported by CBS News.
President Donald Trump has accepted that he cannot run for a third term due to constitutional restrictions, calling it “too bad.” House Speaker Mike Johnson reinforced the constitutional constraints, making any amendment for a third term highly unlikely. Trump continues to maintain a strong political profile and support within the Republican party, but the path to a 2028 presidential bid is blocked by the 22nd Amendment. Discussions of alternative strategies remain speculative and untested constitutionally, with Trump himself dismissing some proposals publicly.