Can Trump legally run for a third term? What Bannon’s claim means under the 22nd Amendment

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Former White House strategist Stephen K. Bannon has publicly backed President Donald Trump’s suggestion that he could seek a third term, asserting in an interview with The Economist that “there is a plan” to get around the Constitution’s two-term limit. Bannon said, without providing details, that he was part of a group working on the idea and described Trump as “an instrument of divine will”, the New York Times reported.

“Trump is going to be president in ’28, and people ought to get accommodated with that,” Bannon said, adding that details of the plan would be revealed “at the appropriate time.”

The constitutional barrier

The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, clearly states that “no person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice.” It leaves no legal room for a third term. Some legal scholars say any effort to challenge that amendment would require a new constitutional amendment, which is virtually impossible without overwhelming congressional and state-level support.

Still, Trump has often flirted with the idea of extending his time in office, alternating between joking and insisting he is “not joking.” His latest social media posts have revived old memes showing mock campaign signs stretching into the 2040s and images of himself portrayed as a king.

Political motivations and reactions

Republican leaders have dismissed the talk as unserious political theatre meant to energize Trump’s base and distract from other controversies. White House aides reportedly mock reporters for taking Trump’s third-term remarks literally. But Bannon’s claim that a coordinated plan exists has reignited debate about whether the rhetoric is shifting toward something more concrete.

Analysts say Trump may be floating the idea to avoid being seen as a lame duck, since a two-term president traditionally loses influence midway through their final term. “Keeping the possibility alive allows him to project strength and inevitability,” one Washington strategist said.

Bannon’s influence and history

Though Bannon hasn’t held a government role since 2017, he remains an influential voice on the far right. His podcast and political network continue to promote Trump’s agenda and spread conspiracies about the 2020 election. Bannon was convicted in February of defrauding donors in a fundraising scheme tied to Trump’s border wall but maintains close ties with grassroots activists.

While his relationship with Trump has sometimes been strained, the president has a history of adopting fringe ideas from his former adviser after initially rejecting them—most notably Project 2025, a right-wing policy blueprint that Trump first disavowed but later embraced.

What’s next

The White House has not commented on Bannon’s remarks, and no formal steps toward a third-term bid have been taken. For now, the claims appear to be part of a broader narrative of Trump defying limits and testing how far his supporters—and the system—will bend.

Whether it is a publicity stunt or an early sign of a constitutional challenge, Bannon’s statement underscores the enduring symbiosis between Trump and his most radical allies: he flirts with the impossible, and they start working to make it sound inevitable.