US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on board Air Force One en route to South Korea.
Credit: Reuters photo
President Donald Trump seemed to concede Wednesday that he was not eligible to serve a third term, lamenting that it was an unfortunate result of the constitutional prohibition that he has mused about violating for months.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to South Korea, the last leg of his three-country diplomatic tour across Asia, Trump said it was “too bad” that he couldn’t run in 2028.
“We have the greatest economy we’ve ever had, I have my highest poll numbers that I’ve ever had,” he boasted (his approval rating remains low, at 43%, according to a New York Times average). “And, you know, based on what I read, I guess I’m not allowed to run. So we’ll see what happens.”
The remarks came after House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday there was no path around the Constitution’s two-term limit.
“I don’t see a way to amend the Constitution — I don’t see the path for that,” Johnson said — but not before complimenting the “Trump 2028” cap that the president likes to wear and display in the Oval Office, and noting that it was still fun to entertain the idea.
Trump, asked about Johnson’s conclusion, which the speaker said he had discussed with the president, said he didn’t “want to talk about it” before listing accomplishments, such as resolving several conflicts and rising stock prices, that he said made him the ideal candidate.
Since retaking the White House, Trump has repeatedly teased that he may never leave. For several months, Trump has discussed serving a third term, vacillating between joking to goad his critics and signaling that it would be one of many ways he would seek to test the bounds of his constitutional authority.
Even as recently as Saturday, Trump said, “I would love to do it,” when asked about serving another four years.
Asked Wednesday whether he had been “trolling” or serious about serving, Trump indicated that he had come to terms with the 22nd Amendment, which states that no one can be elected president more than twice (consecutively or not).
“If you read it, it’s pretty clear — I’m not allowed to run,” he said. “It’s too bad.”
Last week, Steve Bannon, Trump’s former strategist, said vaguely that there was “a plan” to help the president get elected to a third term.
“Trump is going to be president in ’28, and people ought to just get accommodated with that,” he said.
Trump’s allies have floated the possibility of finding a legal loophole, such as a scenario in which Trump runs on a ticket as vice president and ascends to the presidency once elected.
On Monday, Trump said that although it would be legal for him to do that, he wouldn’t want to. “I would rule that out, because it’s too cute,” he said. “I think the people wouldn’t like that.”
Trump has said that the Republican Party has other great candidates, and has floated the notion of his vice president, JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio running together on a ticket.