Trump says constitutional limits block any 2028 presidential run
Donald Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews that the Constitution’s 22nd Amendment prevents him from seeking a third term in 2028.
At a media session on Joint Base Andrews, Donald Trump dismissed speculation about a 2028 presidential bid, emphasizing that the 22nd Amendment’s two-term limit is “very strong.” He mentioned that the question is repeatedly raised, even by the crowd at the Patriot Games gathering he attended earlier. While Trump has alternated between jokes and serious remarks about a third term, he once suggested that JD Vance could run, win, and then resign, allowing Trump to assume the vice presidency and later the presidency.
Legal scholars dispute this, pointing to the 12th Amendment, which bars anyone constitutionally ineligible for the presidency from serving as vice president. Princeton University professor Deborah Pearlstein reinforced that interpretation. Earlier, Trump had made a similar quip at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner and discussed the idea in a March 2025 interview with a journalist at one outlet.
Why it matters
It clarifies whether a former president can legally pursue another term, shaping future election dynamics.
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