Exploring the Possibility of Donald Trump Running for a Third Term in 2028

Following a decisive victory in the general polls, President-elect Donald Trump has suggested that he could be open to the idea of a third term in the White House.

“I suspect I won’t be running again unless you (supporters) say otherwise,” Trump said while addressing House Republicans in Washington.

"Exploring the Possibility: Can Donald Trump Run for a Third Term in 2028?"

However, Trump’s statement quickly sparked questions about the legality of a potential third term. The 22nd Amendment of the US Constitution prevents any President from serving more than two elected terms.

Let’s take a look at whether Trump can run for a third term:

Although Trump has joked about a third term, the 22nd Amendment of the US Constitution bars him from running again. To pursue a third term, he would need to repeal the amendment—a challenging task.

For Trump to be able to annul the amendment, he would require the support of two-thirds of both the House — 290 members — and the Senate — 67 members. Once they did so, three-fourths of all states — 38 –would also have to agree.

“No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once,” Section 1 of the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution of the United States says.

“But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term,” it adds.

While Section 2 states that “This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.”