President Donald Trump has firmly stated that the U.S. Constitution prevents him from seeking a third term in office, marking a clearer stance than his previous teasing remarks. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on October 29, 2025, while traveling to South Korea, Trump said, “If you read it, it’s pretty clear—I’m not allowed to run. It’s too bad.” His current second term ends in January 2029, and the 22nd Amendment explicitly bars any president from being elected more than twice.
This comment represents a shift from Trump’s earlier ambiguity. Since winning reelection in November 2024, he has occasionally floated the idea of another run, even selling “Trump 2028” merchandise at rallies. Allies like former strategist Steve Bannon have proposed legal challenges to the two-term limit. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson, after discussing the matter with Trump, dismissed any realistic path forward. “It’s been a great run,” Johnson said on October 28. “But I think the president knows… the constrictions of the Constitution.”
Amending the Constitution is a daunting process. It requires a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the states—a step Johnson estimated could take up to a decade. “I don’t see the path for that,” he added. Johnson described Trump’s third-term talk as “political theater,” meant to provoke Democrats rather than signal serious intent.
Trump, who is 79, also brushed off speculation about running for vice president in 2028, calling it “too cute” despite laws that would allow it. Instead, he highlighted potential 2028 Republican candidates, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. If Trump were to pursue a third term and win, he would be 82 at inauguration, surpassing his own record as the oldest president in U.S. history.
The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951 after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four terms, was designed to prevent prolonged presidential power. Trump’s acknowledgment aligns with this long-standing limit, putting an end—for now—to months of speculation.
