Third term: Trump gives major update on 2028 presidential run

August 5, 2025

US President, Donald Trump has addressed speculation about whether he plans to run for the presidency again—confirming that another campaign is unlikely.

Speaking to CNBC, Trump said: “No, probably not, probably not. I’d like to … I have the best poll numbers I’ve ever had.”

Though legally barred from a third term under the US Constitution, Trump has repeatedly joked about running again, prompting speculation among supporters about whether he might pursue another path to office.

During a meeting with House Republicans in November, he hinted at the idea again, saying: “I suspect I won’t be running again unless you say ‘He’s so good, we have to figure it out,’” which reportedly drew laughter from the room.

He added that he considered his last run his final campaign unless lawmakers “do something.”

The US Constitution’s 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951 after Franklin D. Roosevelt served four terms, restricts any individual from being elected president more than twice.

It also limits those who have served more than two years of another president’s term to just one additional elected term. As it stands, any attempt by Trump to run again would be unconstitutional.

Despite this, Trump has previously stirred controversy with comments implying he might seek a way around the restriction. In a phone interview with NBC News earlier this year, when asked if he was joking about running again, he replied: “I am not joking,” and added: “There are methods which you could do it.”

Such remarks have alarmed critics who view them as undemocratic. Even Trump’s own Attorney General, Pam Bondi, affirmed the constitutional limits during her Senate confirmation hearing. When asked if Trump could run for a third term in 2028, she responded: “No senator, not unless they change the Constitution.”

The president’s persistent hints at returning to power have drawn both support and concern. While some die-hard supporters continue to back the idea, legal experts maintain that unless the Constitution is amended, a third term is not possible.