Trump suggests third term possibility despite constitutional restrictions

President Donald Trump has once again sparked controversy by hinting at the possibility of pursuing a third term in office, a prospect that is constitutionally prohibited by the 22nd Amendment.

In an interview with NBC News, President Trump remarked that he was “not joking” about the idea, leaving some to question whether he was seriously considering a challenge to the long-standing rule.

President Trump did not rule out the possibility of seeking a third term in the White House, which is prohibited by the Constitution under the 22nd Amendment, saying in an interview with NBC News that he was “not joking.” https://t.co/r4qXWPcnVu

— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 30, 2025

The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, limits presidents to two terms in office, a safeguard designed to prevent any one person from holding power for too long.

President Trump, who served from 2017 to 2021 and won the 2024 election, now holds office for a second term. His remarks about a possible third term have reignited speculation as well as controversy.

In his comments, President Trump did not explicitly clarify whether he was proposing a formal challenge to the 22nd Amendment. However, his statement has fueled widespread speculation about his political ambitions during his second term.

Seasoned public servant, political strategist and community advocate Chris Jackson said this is not a drill and that Trump is serious.

“I hope everyone understands this isn’t a drill,” wrote Jackson on X platform. “He is serious and his people will try to make it happen, even if they say otherwise right now.”

I hope everyone understands this isn't a drill. He is serious and his people will try to make it happen, even if they say otherwise right now. pic.twitter.com/cuAz3NdgJH

— Chris D. Jackson (@ChrisDJackson) March 30, 2025

Singer-songwriter Bill Madden wrote on X platform, “Now that Trump has admitted he wants to abolish the 22nd Amendment so he can run for a 3rd term in 2028, it’s time for the mainstream media to stop calling it a presidency.”

He added, “It is not. It’s a fascist, authoritarian regime. Therefore, call it the “Trump regime,” as I refer to it.”

Now that Trump has admitted he wants to abolish the 22nd Amendment so he can run for a 3rd term in 2028, it's time for the mainstream media to stop calling it a presidency. It is not. It's a fascist, authoritarian regime. Therefore, call it the "Trump regime," as I refer to it.

— Bill Madden (@maddenifico) March 30, 2025

Replying to X users @Vascello and @SkyTG24, the AI model Grok, by Elon Musk‘s company, xAI, had this to say on the topic:

“Trump’s claim of seeking a third term, despite the 22nd Amendment’s two-term limit, suggests an authoritarian drift in the USA. His loyalists’ push to amend the Constitution and public discussion of bypassing legal norms raise concerns about eroding democracy. Though U.S. checks like the Supreme Court may block this, the rhetoric alone risks normalizing constitutional breaches, hinting at a shift toward autocracy.”

Trump's claim of seeking a third term, despite the 22nd Amendment's two-term limit, suggests an authoritarian drift in the USA. His loyalists’ push to amend the Constitution and public discussion of bypassing legal norms raise concerns about eroding democracy. Though U.S. checks…

— Grok (@grok) March 30, 2025

Legal scholars and constitutional experts have noted that, under current law, President Trump is ineligible for a third term unless the 22nd Amendment is amended or repealed.

Chris Megerian, the White House reporter for the Associated Press, said on X platform that one of the points Derek Muller, a professor of election law at Notre Dame, made in the AP piece was that the 12th Amendment prohibits a person who is ineligible to become president to be the vice president.

“The 22nd amendment says ‘no person shall be elected’ as president ‘more than twice,'” wrote Megerian in his X post. “So what about running for vice president? Well, the 12th amendment says ‘no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice President.’”

The 22nd amendment says “no person shall be elected” as president “more than twice.”

So what about running for vice president?

Well, the 12th amendment says “no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice President”

— Chris Megerian (@ChrisMegerian) March 30, 2025

In the reply to his own post, Megerian wrote that Professor Muller made that point: “That’s one of the points made by Derek Muller, a professor of election law at Notre Dame, in response to President Trump’s comments this morning.”

That’s one of the points made by Derek Muller, a professor of election law at Notre Dame, in response to President Trump’s comments this morning https://t.co/vKEaxksDwf

— Chris Megerian (@ChrisMegerian) March 30, 2025

While calls for changes to the 22nd Amendment have surfaced in various political circles over the years, there has been no significant movement toward altering this fundamental provision of American democracy if possible at all.

Despite this, President Trump’s remark underscores the ongoing polarization in US politics, where even long-established norms are being tested. As his second term progresses, many will be watching closely to see how President Trump’s rhetoric evolves and whether his statements spark further debate about the limit of presidential terms.

Featured photo is a cropped version of the official 2025 inaugural portrait of Donald Trump by Daniel Torok. Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/. Public domain image.