President Donald Trump expressed regret Wednesday for not being allowed to seek a third term, acknowledging the limits set by the U.S. Constitution and signalling he would step aside. “If you read it, it’s pretty clear,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One en route from Japan to South Korea. “I’m not allowed to run. It’s too bad.”
The remarks followed just a day after Trump said he would “love to do” a third term, drawing attention to efforts within his circle to extend his presidency past constitutional limits. The comments highlight the legal and political hurdles surrounding any attempt to alter the two-term rule and raise questions about strategy ahead of the 2028 election cycle.
The U.S. Constitution’s 22nd Amendment bars any president from being elected more than twice. It was passed after Franklin D. Roosevelt served four terms. Legal experts told Reuters and other outlets that there is no credible constitutional route for Trump to seek a third elected term.
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Trump began his second term in January, having already served from 2017 to 2021. The 22nd Amendment limits presidents to two terms unless a new amendment is ratified, a process that requires years and broad consensus. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday after a discussion with Trump that staying in office longer was simply not feasible. “It’s been a great run,” Johnson said, noting the constitutional constraints. Meanwhile Trump stopped short of laying out specific plans. “Based on what I read, I guess I’m not allowed to run,” he said.
Some Trump allies have suggested alternative approaches, including a plan for the 79-year-old president to run again in 2028. Former strategist Steve Bannon said last week that a draft plan is being developed. On his desk in the Oval Office, Trump keeps red hats bearing “Trump 2028,” fuelling speculation about the future. Asked whether he might run as vice president then shift into the presidency, Trump called the idea “too cute” and said “You’d be allowed to do that, but I wouldn’t do that.”
Now that Trump has admitted that he cannot legally run for a third term, his supporters would prepare for 2028 differently by backing a successor.