US President Donald Trump has triggered intense national debate after publicly stating that a third term in office is not off the table. In a Sunday interview with NBC News, the president said, “I’m not joking,” when asked if he was considering ways to remain in power beyond the constitutional two-term limit.
His comments came during a phone call from Mar-a-Lago and were later repeated aboard Air Force One as he returned to Washington. Trump also claimed that many supporters have urged him to continue beyond 2028, citing the 2020 election as “totally rigged.”
The president’s statement immediately sparked both outrage and support across the political spectrum.
What the Constitution Says About a Third Term
The US Constitution, through the 22nd Amendment ratified in 1951, clearly states: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
Legal experts quickly responded. Professor Jeremy Paul of Northeastern University called the idea legally baseless, saying, “There are no credible legal arguments for a third term.”
Notre Dame law professor Derek Muller pointed to another safeguard in the 12th Amendment, which prohibits anyone ineligible to be president from becoming vice president, closing off another possible path.
Despite these constitutional barriers, Trump told NBC News, “There are methods which you could do it,” without offering further details.
Public Reaction: Fierce and Divided
Representative Daniel Goldman, Democrat of New York, released a statement within hours. “This is yet another escalation in his clear effort to take over the government and dismantle our democracy,” he wrote. “If Congressional Republicans believe in the Constitution, they must oppose Trump’s ambitions for a third term.”
Constitutional scholars echoed the alarm. Many warned that testing or defying these legal limits would create a constitutional crisis unlike any seen before.
Loyal Supporters Applaud the Idea
At a campaign rally in Wisconsin, 30-year-old Kayla Thompson expressed full support. “America needs him. If he doesn’t do it, we’re probably headed backwards,” she said.
Steve Bannon, a former White House strategist, also voiced support during a recent speech, saying, “We want Trump in 2028.”
Supporters online quickly picked up the idea with hashtags like #Trump2028 and #ThirdTermNow gaining traction on social media.
Trump 2028
I pray – and we should all pray. Someone amazing as Donald Trump as president comes around once in a lifetime #trump2028 pic.twitter.com/jIv0BxzaD4
— Gotham (@Gotham305) March 20, 2025
Could a Vice President Loophole Be Used?
NBC’s Kristen Welker asked Trump if one option would be to let Vice President JD Vance win the presidency and “pass the baton.” Trump responded, “That’s one,” but refused to elaborate further, saying only, “There are others.”
Experts pushed back hard on that concept. The 12th Amendment would prevent Trump from holding the vice presidency if he is constitutionally ineligible to hold the presidency again.
Legal analyst Derek Muller warned, “There’s no ‘weird trick’ to bypass presidential term limits. That’s not how any of this works.”
Political Strategy or Serious Warning?
Some analysts believe Trump’s third-term talk is part of a larger political strategy.
“He’s trying to project strength,” said Muller. “He wants to avoid the lame-duck label. Floating the idea of a third term keeps him in control of the narrative.”
Others see it as another attempt to undermine democratic institutions by testing public tolerance for overreach.
Trump himself claimed his popularity would make it possible. “I have the highest poll numbers of any Republican for the last 100 years,” he said. In fact, Gallup polling shows Trump peaking at 47 percent approval, while former President George W. Bush reached 90 percent in 2001.
The Bottom Line
Amending the Constitution would require a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate or a national convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures. Then three-quarters of states would need to ratify the change.
That process has never succeeded in reversing a presidential term limit.
As of Monday morning, neither House Speaker Mike Johnson nor Senate Majority Leader John Thune has issued a public response. The silence has only intensified speculation.
Several Democrats have already signaled plans to introduce legislation reinforcing term limits and clarifying that no backdoor path to a third term is possible.
