President Donald Trump is a mere two months into his second term and there is already talk about a third.
On one hand Trump told reporters about a third term Sunday, “We have a long way to go before we can even think about that,” NPR reported.
Then, NBC News quoted Trump as saying he “was not joking” about a third term in office.
“I’m not looking at that, but I’ll tell you I’ve had more people ask me to have a third term,” he told reporters.
Trump was reticent about taking about it.
“I don’t want to talk about a third term now because no matter how you look at it, we have a long time to go. We have almost four years to go. And that’s a long time,” he said.
Still, Trump, currently 78, said “there are methods” for him to serve another term.
One scenario is for Vice President JD Vance to win an election, then hand the presidency over to Trump. There are other plans, but Trump did not say what they are.
Trump said he was serious about seeking a third term in office.
“A lot of people want me to do it,” Trump said, according to NBC News. “But we have — my thinking is, we have a long way to go. I’m focused on the current.”
There would be one major hurdle to overcome should he seek a third term — the U.S. Constitution, which limits presidents to two terms following Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four terms.
The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution limits a president to two terms.
Also, per the 12th Amendment, “No person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.”
Changing the Constitution is not easy either as there needs to be a two-thirds vote in Congress or a constitutional convention — which 34 states need to request. The chance of either of those scenarios coming to fruition is slim given the deadlock in Congress and the political climate.
Trump’s former adviser Steve Bannon has already endorsed Trump for 2028.
“No, no I’m not joking,” said when asked if he was joking about the prospect of another term, per NBC News.
When asked if he was joking about another presidential run, Trump said, “No, no I’m not joking,” according to NBC News.
