Washington, D.C. – October 27, 2025 – In a candid exchange with reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Tokyo, President Donald Trump declined to dismiss the possibility of seeking a third term in 2028, reigniting fierce debates over the U.S. Constitution's 22nd Amendment and the boundaries of executive power. The remarks, delivered mid-flight during a high-stakes Asian tour, come on the heels of provocative statements from Trump's longtime ally Steve Bannon, who last week asserted that a "plan" exists to propel the president back into the White House despite clear legal prohibitions.
Trump, now in the early months of his second nonconsecutive term following his 2024 electoral victory, was pressed on Bannon's recent interview with The Economist, where the former White House chief strategist declared, "Trump is going to be president in '28, and people ought to just get accommodated with that." When asked if he would challenge the two-term limit in court, Trump demurred, saying, "I haven’t really thought about it. We have some very good people as you know, but I have the best poll numbers I’ve ever had." He quickly pivoted to praising potential successors, naming Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as "good people" who could form an "unstoppable" 2028 ticket.
The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951 in response to Franklin D. Roosevelt's unprecedented four terms during World War II, explicitly states: "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice." This provision applies regardless of whether the terms are consecutive, making Trump's potential pursuit a direct confrontation with foundational American democratic norms. Legal scholars have long viewed the amendment as ironclad, requiring a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states for any repeal—a process deemed politically improbable in the hyper-partisan climate of 2025.
Yet Trump's comments suggest a willingness to test those limits. "I’m not sure if anybody would run again. I think if they have a form to grip it would be unstoppable, I do. I really believe that. I would love to do it. I have my best numbers ever," he said, blending self-promotion with vague allusions to his administration's achievements. When directly queried about ruling out a third bid, Trump quipped, "Am I not ruling it out? I mean, you’ll have to tell me." He contrasted his Republican "great group of people" with Democrats, whom he implied lack comparable talent.
Trump's rhetoric extended to touting his foreign policy record, claiming, "I mean, I just solved eight wars and a ninth is coming. I believe Russia-Ukraine will happen. I mean it’s millions of people we saved. I saved the lives of millions of people. That’s what’s important." These assertions align with his administration's narrative of brokering ceasefires in the Middle East and pressuring negotiations in Eastern Europe, though independent analyses from think tanks like the Council on Foreign Relations credit a mix of diplomatic leverage and international fatigue rather than unilateral "solving." Critics, including Democratic leaders, have dismissed such boasts as exaggerated, pointing to ongoing tensions in Ukraine and Gaza as evidence of incomplete resolutions.
The president's remarks also touched on a workaround floated by some supporters: running as vice president in 2028, with the ticket's presidential nominee resigning post-inauguration to elevate Trump via the 25th Amendment. Trump shot this down, calling it "too cute" and unlikely to resonate with voters. "Yeah, I'd be allowed to do that... I guess I think it's too cute. I think the people wouldn't like that," he said, acknowledging the technical legality while rejecting the optics. This dismissal drew mixed reactions on social media platform X, where users debated the maneuver's feasibility. One post from @LeadingReport highlighted Trump's endorsement of a Vance-Rubio pairing as "unstoppable," garnering over 400 likes in hours. Conversely, critics like @EWErickson urged calm, reminding followers that Trump is "term-limited" and will depart on January 20, 2029, emphasizing the Constitution's resilience.
Bannon's intervention, published in The Economist on October 24, amplified the speculation. The podcaster and MAGA architect, who served four months in prison in 2024 for contempt of Congress related to the January 6 investigation before receiving a presidential pardon, insisted on a multipronged strategy. "There’s many different alternatives. At the appropriate time, we’ll lay out what the plan is, but there is a plan, and Trump will be the president in ‘28," Bannon said, framing Trump as an "instrument of divine will" essential for national salvation. He cited Trump's "longer odds" in 2016 and 2024 as precedent for defying expectations, adding that the country "needs him for at least one more term."
Bannon's vagueness on specifics—ranging from potential Supreme Court challenges to legislative maneuvers—has fueled alarm among constitutional experts. Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of UC Berkeley School of Law, told CNN that any attempt to evade the 22nd Amendment would trigger "a constitutional crisis of unprecedented scale," likely culminating in Supreme Court intervention. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has previously downplayed repeal efforts as a "high bar," while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) warned on the Senate floor Monday that such talk erodes democratic faith.
This episode is not isolated. Shortly after his 2024 inauguration, Trump jested to House Republicans, "I suspect I won’t be running again unless you say, ‘He’s so good, we got to figure something else out.’" In April 2025, responding to NBC News, he affirmed, "I’m not joking" about methods to extend his tenure. Polling from Gallup in September showed Trump's approval at 52%, his highest since 2017, buoyed by economic rebounds and border security measures—figures he referenced as justification. However, a Pew Research survey from the same period indicated 58% of Americans oppose any third-term bid, viewing it as a threat to term limits established post-FDR.
Public reaction on X has been polarized. Supporters like @PetsRescues celebrated Trump's "love to do it" enthusiasm, linking to Gateway Pundit coverage. Detractors, including @OnlyAngerInHere, lambasted MAGA for enabling "this cunt to destroy our country," citing unfulfilled promises like Epstein file releases. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) echoed this on MSNBC, declaring, "When someone’s breaching the Constitution, it needs to be called out. There’s not two sides to it." Meanwhile, @AZGreenParty mocked the irony for "constitution huggers" in Trump's base.
Beyond the legal fray, Trump's Asia trip underscores his foreign policy pivot. Arriving in Tokyo after stops in Malaysia, he is set to meet Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to discuss trade tariffs and North Korean threats. The tour, framed as a "peace through strength" showcase, includes potential talks with Kim Jong Un—logistically challenging but symbolically potent. Domestically, the White House faces scrutiny over a $300 million East Wing renovation for a gilded ballroom, criticized as monarchical excess amid third-term whispers.
As 2028 looms, Trump's ambiguity tests Republican unity. Vance, 41, and Rubio, 54, represent a generational shift, but Trump's shadow looms large. Bannon, in a fresh interview with The Times, vowed, "I’m running Trump 2028," likening him to Washington and Lincoln. Democrats, eyeing a comeback, see opportunity in portraying Trump as power-hungry. "Let AOC go against Trump," one X user suggested, invoking Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a foil.
For now, the Constitution holds. But Trump's flirtation—and Bannon's bravado—signals a MAGA movement unwilling to sunset its icon. As one X post queried, "Do you want President Trump to run for a third term?" The poll results may foreshadow a battle not just for votes, but for America's republican soul.
