Donald Trump reignited speculation about a potential third term as U.S. president during a Sunday interview with NBC News, defying the two-term limit set by the U.S. Constitution.
In a phone call on Sunday morning, Trump was asked to clarify comments about possibly seeking another term. He responded firmly, saying, “I’m not joking,” and added, “There are methods which you could do it.”
At 78, the billionaire former president has long alluded to the idea of serving beyond two terms. However, Sunday’s remarks were more direct, hinting at potential strategies to pursue the goal.
Trump has already begun his second term with a significant exercise of executive power, notably enlisting Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, to help dismantle portions of the federal government. He also claimed that his supporters are demanding even more from him.
“A lot of people want me to do it,” Trump told NBC News. “But I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, it’s very early in the administration.”
Amending the Constitution to allow a third term would require a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate—something that’s currently unattainable for the Republican Party, which lacks sufficient control in both chambers.
While Trump emphasized that it was “far too early to think about it,” he also confirmed he’s been presented with plans that might allow him to run again.
When asked about a scenario where Vice President JD Vance could run for president and then step aside for Trump, the former president confirmed it was “one” potential method. He hinted there were other strategies but declined to provide further details.
Should Trump decide against seeking a constitutional amendment through Congress, he could try to rally support from two-thirds of the states to call for a constitutional convention, a process that has never succeeded in U.S. history. Any proposal from such a convention would then require ratification by three-quarters of all states.
With the Republican Party currently holding a majority in both the House and Senate, the likelihood of achieving this constitutional overhaul remains slim.
In January, shortly after taking office, Republican Congressman Andy Ogles from Tennessee introduced a joint resolution to amend the Constitution to allow presidents to serve up to three terms.
AFP
