Trump says he's "not joking" about seeking a 3rd term
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President Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office on March 28. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
President Trump told NBC News Sunday "there are methods" by which he could serve a third term in the White House — a highly improbable idea some MAGA allies have endorsed.
The latest: When asked aboard Air Force One about his comments to NBC that he's "not joking" about a third term, Trump said "I'm not looking at that but I'll tell you, I have had more people ask me to have a third term," according to a White House pool report.
- When reporters asked if this would be an appropriate precedent to set, Trump said: "I don't even want to talk about a third term now because no matter how you look at it, you've got a long time to go. ... 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."
The big picture: Presidential term limits are enshrined in the Constitution and there is virtually no possibility that the required two-thirds of Congress and three-quarters of the U.S. states would vote to abolish the 22nd Amendment.
Driving the news: Still Trump, in a Sunday morning call with NBC's Kristen Welker, suggested there are ways he could make a third term happen but added "it is far too early to think about it."
- Welker presented an option by which Vice President JD Vance would run for office and then pass the presidency off to him, to which Trump replied, "Well, that's one."
- He continued, "But there are others, too. There are others."
- Asked if he could expand on other options, the president replied, "No."
A second option, also floated by MAGA allies, is for two-thirds of U.S. states to call for a constitutional convention and propose an amendment.
Yes, but: At least 38 states are still required to ratify any changes to the Constitution.
Zoom out: Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon told Chris Cuomo earlier this month that he's a "firm believer" Trump will run and win the White House for a third time in 2028.
- Asked how Trump would sidestep constitutional term limits, Bannon replied, "We're working on it."
- Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) presented a resolution in the House back in January to allow any president to serve three terms, though it has not gained any traction in either chamber.
Go deeper: Behind the Curtain: Trump's boundary-busting provocations
Editor's note: This article has been updated with President Trump's comment to reporters aboard Air Force One.
