Trump’s third-term talk, explained: Why he keeps floating an unconstitutional run

US President Donald Trump (Courtesy: Reuters photo)

En route between Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo, President Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One, “I would love to do it,” referring to a third run for the presidency after his current term. He added that he hadn’t really thought about it, even as allies keep the idea alive. The remark extends a norm-busting theme of his second term: pushing at limits to maximize personal power, the New York Times reported.

What the US Constitution actually says

There’s no ambiguity in the 22nd Amendment: no one can be elected president more than twice. Legally, the conversation could end there. The question, then, isn’t feasibility — it’s why the president keeps talking about something the Constitution prohibits.

Why keep saying it

Trump has long understood the attention value of “maybe.” For decades he flirted publicly with running for president; the point was often the headlines. Advisers say floating a third term grabs the spotlight and needles opponents. As one reporting insight noted, ideas presented as jokes can become normalized among supporters — and then gain weight with Trump himself.

The political impact inside the GOP

Third-term chatter makes it harder to treat Trump as a lame duck. It signals continued dominance of the party and complicates any Republican’s path to a post-Trump future, since mapping that path can be read as defiance. He reinforced the hierarchy by praising Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance as top contenders — while casting himself as kingmaker.

The long prelude

Trump has played this game for decades. In 1988, he told Oprah Winfrey he probably wouldn’t run, but wouldn’t rule it out. In a 1990 Playboy interview, he mused on crises and military strength, saying he wouldn’t trust the Russians. The pattern — staking out a provocative “what if” — remains intact now that he holds the office.

The props and surrogates

He has joked about staying 25 years; “Trump 2028” hats sat on his desk during a recent meeting with congressional leaders. Some Republicans have echoed the idea. Former adviser Steve Bannon claimed there was a “plan” for another bid, without detailing what that would be.

Bottom line

A third term is unconstitutional. But the talk isn’t about constitutional law — it’s about power. By keeping the notion alive, Trump sustains attention, pressures rivals, and projects that the end of his current term need not be the end of his influence. Whether the line is delivered as a tease or a promise, it locks the political conversation onto his terms.