Fact Check: Can President Donald Trump Run for a Third Term in Office?
President Donald Trump has repeatedly hinted at the possibility of seeking a third term in office — something constitutional experts say would be illegal under U.S. law.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, the 79-year-old president suggested he might explore what he called a “constitutional loophole” that would allow him to run as Vice President JD Vance’s running mate in 2028.
“I would love to do it,” Trump said, referring to the idea of serving a third term. “But I think people wouldn’t like that. It’s too cute. It wouldn’t be right.”
Trump added that while he hasn’t given the matter serious thought, he continues to enjoy record levels of support. “I haven’t really thought about it,” he said. “We have some very good people, as you know… But I have the best poll numbers that I’ve ever had.”
Constitutional scholars, however, are clear: the 22nd Amendment bars any president from being elected more than twice. Ratified in 1951 after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four-term presidency, the amendment explicitly states that “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
Trump was first elected in 2016, lost his reelection bid to Joe Biden in 2020, then won again in 2024, defeating Kamala Harris. His latest comments have revived debate over how far presidential term limits can be stretched — and whether the vice-presidential “loophole” he referenced even exists.
Legal experts say it does not. A former president who has already served two terms is constitutionally ineligible to hold the office again, even through the line of succession.
Still, Trump appears to be leaning into the speculation. His campaign website is selling “Trump 2028” hats for $50 — a move that has only fueled talk of another potential run, whether symbolic or serious.
