Special Poll
President Donald Trump said Sunday that he is “not joking” about the possibility of serving a third term, doubling down on a controversial suggestion he’s now made publicly twice in less than a month.
During a phone interview with NBC News’s Kristen Welker, the president was asked directly about the remarks he’s made recently hinting at a third term something barred by the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.
“I’m hearing you don’t sound like you’re joking. I’ve heard you joke about this a number of times,” Welker said.
“No, no, I’m not joking,” Trump replied, confirming that the idea is not simply offhanded humor.
He went on to point to his continued popularity within the Republican Party, claiming that he holds “the highest poll numbers of any Republican for the last 100 years.”
“We’re in the high 70s in many polls, in the real polls, and you see that,” Trump said. “And you know, we’re very popular. A lot of people would like me to do that.” He added, however, “I basically tell them, we have a long way to go. You know, it’s very early in the administration.”
The latest remarks echo what Trump said during a St. Patrick’s Day event on March 12, which included House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheál Martin, and other lawmakers. At that time, Trump made a similarly vague but eyebrow-raising comment about potentially serving beyond two terms.
Under the U.S. Constitution, presidents are limited to two terms in office. The rule has stood for decades and was codified after Franklin D. Roosevelt served four terms during a national crisis. Any attempt to override that limit would require a constitutional amendment something seen as nearly impossible in the current political climate.
Still, Trump’s repeated hints about a third term are sparking debate, with critics warning that the comments further erode respect for democratic norms and constitutional boundaries. Supporters, meanwhile, see the remarks as symbolic of Trump’s continued popularity and his willingness to defy convention.
Whether Trump is serious or simply stirring his base, his refusal to rule out a third term is likely to remain a hot topic both in the media and in the halls of power as his second term unfolds.