U.S. would be "lucky" if Trump serves "even longer," White House says
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
President Trump on Dec. 13, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
The White House said the U.S. would be "lucky" to have President Trump remain in office for a longer period, after lawyer Alan Dershowitz told the Wall Street Journal he shared a draft of his new book exploring the possibility of a third presidential term.
The big picture: Trump and his administration have repeatedly teased a 2028 run, despite the 22nd Amendment barring presidents from being elected to a third term.
What they're saying: "There has never been an Administration that has accomplished as much in less than one year than the Trump Administration," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a Thursday evening email.
- "The American people would be lucky to have President Trump in office for even longer."
- The White House did not immediately respond to Axios' Wednesday evening request for comment asking if the president is planning to run for another term.
- Dershowitz told WSJ in an interview published Thursday that he advised Trump that "it's not clear if a president can become a third term president and it's not clear if it's permissible,'" though he added: "I don't think he will run for a third term."
State of play: Dershowitz's book "Could President Trump Constitutionally Serve a Third Term?," is slated to publish next year.
- He previously served as Trump's defense lawyer during the president's first impeachment trial and told the WSJ he informed Trump that the Constitution isn't explicit on the possibility of another term. The president plans to read his draft, he added.
- Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles, in her Vanity Fair interview, published Tuesday, dismissed speculation that Trump would defy the 22nd Amendment, though she said he's "having fun" knowing his comments are "driving people crazy."
- House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in October he doesn't "see the path" for Trump to pursue a 2028 bid, which prompted the president to acknowledge that "it's pretty clear" he can't be elected again.
Yes, but: Trump previously insisted he's "not joking" about a third term and would "love" to run for president again.
- His Trump Store even began selling "Trump 2028" hat this year, encouraging supporters to "[m]ake a statement."
The intrigue: Dershowitz told the WSJ that one scenario where Trump could be president again could involve the final results potentially being decided upon by Congress.
- Dershowitz theorizes that if Trump were declared the winner of another election, Electoral College members could abstain their vote when they meet to cast their ballots, ultimately leaving the election up to Congress.
- "He found it interesting as an intellectual issue," Dershowitz told WSJ.
Go deeper: All the times Trump has promoted 2028 run with merch and rhetoric
