Trump and his team keep referencing a third term in 2028. But could he actually run again?
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Trump, pictured in the White House on February 11, has publicly mulled a third term several times Just days after winning the 2024 election, Trump told House Republicans: “I suspect I won’t be running again unless you say ‘He’s so good, we got to figure something else out.’” Last month, at the House Republicans’ annual retreat in Florida, he joked about whether he was allowed to run again. Because we’re probably — based on the way we were treated — we are probably entitled to another four after that.” In 2018, he praised Chinese President Xi Jinping’s potential lifetime term in office as “great,” saying “maybe we’ll give that a shot someday.” By 2020, while campaigning for reelection in Reno, Nevada, Trump told his followers that he was going to win the state and “win four more years in the White House,” before adding: “We’re probably – based on the way we were treated – we’re probably entitled to another four after that.” When Trump was pressed on whether he believes he can serve a third term, the president said he doesn’t want one. I intend to serve four years and do a great job.” Trump and his supporters often insist the Republican is joking or not being literal after he faces scrutiny for his statements, including after the Access Hollywood scandal, Trump’s call for Russia to release hacked emails from the Clinton campaign, and the president’s suggestion in his first term that disinfectant could be used as a treatment against Covid-19. open image in gallery Trump with Joe Biden at the White House as the president promised a peacefully transfer of power in January The 32nd U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four terms in office helped inspire the 22nd Amendment in the first place.
