President Donald Trump talked about the ongoing speculation on Wednesday about his political future. He said that the Constitution stops him from running for a third term as U.S. President. The comments were made while he was on Air Force One on his way to South Korea for the APEC Summit.
Trump remarked, “If you read it, it’s pretty clear, I’m not allowed to run, it’s too bad,” referring to the two-term restriction in the Constitution.
The statement clears things up a little bit after the president sent out a lot of confusing messages. Just a day before, Trump had thought about running for another term but had ruled out running for vice president in 2028.
The Question of the VP and the Claim of Popularity
When asked on Tuesday if he will run for Vice President in 2028, a suggestion made by some supporters as a way to get back the president through a constitutional loophole, Trump said no:
“I wouldn’t do it. I think it’s too adorable. Yes, I would rule that out because it’s too charming. I don’t think the people would enjoy that.
Even though he knew he couldn’t run for a third term, Trump still talking about how strong he was politically. He said that since starting his second term, he has had “the highest poll numbers I’ve ever had,” and he repeated his boasts of ending eight wars. He said he would be happy to run for another term if he could.
“I have the highest poll numbers I’ve ever had, and based on what I read, I guess I’m not allowed to run, so we’ll see what happens,” the President stated.
The 22nd Amendment: The Truth About the Constitution
The U.S. Constitution’s 22nd Amendment clearly explains why Trump can’t run for a third elected term.
The Law: The 22nd Amendment, which was ratified in 1951, says clearly, “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
Historical Context: This amendment was passed in response to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who violated the long-standing tradition set by George Washington and was elected to an unprecedented four terms, though he died a few months into his fourth term.
Legal experts all agree that the 22nd Amendment is a clear and unequivocal ban. Some allies and political strategists have suggested legal challenges or unconventional routes (such as the vice presidency or becoming speaker of the House) to get around the restriction. However, constitutional scholars agree that the Supreme Court would probably rule any attempt to legally get a third elected term unconstitutional.