Special Poll
President Donald Trump floated the idea of a potential rematch with former President Barack Obama in 2028, fueling further speculation about his openness to pursuing an unprecedented third term in office despite clear constitutional limits.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump struck a slightly more cautious tone when pressed about whether he’d seriously consider running again after the end of his current term. “I’m not sure it would even be possible,” he said, while also claiming that “people are asking me to run.”
But when asked if such a move might open the door for Democrats to nominate Obama who is also barred by the Constitution from serving a third term Trump appeared genuinely excited by the idea. “That would be a good one,”he said. “I’d like that.”
His comments came during a signing ceremony for a new executive order targeting ticket resellers, increasing federal oversight of pricing practices that have frustrated consumers across the country. Standing nearby was Kid Rock, a vocal Trump supporter who joined the president at the White House for the event. Trump also confirmed upcoming travel plans to Saudi Arabia, with possible additional stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Under the 22nd Amendment, no individual can be elected president more than twice effectively barring both Trump and Obama from pursuing another term. The amendment makes no exceptions for presidents serving non-consecutive terms, as Trump is currently doing.
Many Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, have brushed off Trump’s musings as little more than banter. “He’s probably having some fun with it and probably messing with you,” Thune told reporters on Monday.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt similarly downplayed the speculation, saying a third term is “not really something we’re thinking about.”
Still, the idea has been amplified by MAGA-aligned voices, including Steve Bannon, who continue to suggest that Trump could somehow sidestep constitutional barriers an idea that many legal scholars and constitutional conservatives have firmly rejected.
Notably, neither Trump nor Leavitt definitively ruled out the possibility, leaving the door open to further speculation as the president continues to test the boundaries of traditional norms and, some argue, constitutional law.
The suggestion of a future match-up between Trump and Obama, however hypothetical, highlights how Trump remains eager to frame himself as the dominant political force of his generation and how he thrives on teasing the media and his critics alike. But as the conversation around a third term continues, the underlying question remains: Is Trump laying the groundwork for a serious constitutional challenge, or simply keeping his base energized with provocative talk?