Can Donald Trump run for a third term? Exploring the President's comments on 'methods' to make it happen

While Donald Trump stated that he wanted to serve as the president for the third time, he cannot run for a third term as per the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution. However, he can be a running mate to Vice President J.D. Vance in the 2028 elections. Vance, after winning and being sworn in, could then allegedly resign, leaving Trump to take over the presidential role.

In an interview hosted by Kristen Welker, which aired on March 30 on NBC. U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned that there are "methods" to circumvent a third presidential term, which is prohibited by the Constitution under the 22nd Amendment.

"A lot of people want me to do it. But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, it's very early in the administration. I'm focused on the current."

When asked if he would like to serve a third term, Trump agreed, saying,

"I like working. I'm not joking. But I'm not - it is far too early to think about it."

When Kristen asked if he has been presented with plans to seek a third term, Trump clarified that there are "methods," not plans.

"Well, there are plans. There are - not plans. There are methods - there are methods which you could do it, as you know."

When Welker suggested a loophole where he could be the running mate to his vice-president, JD Vance, or someone else in the 2028 election. The person who gets elected would then immediately resign after winning and being sworn in as president, leaving Trump to take over the presidency.

Donald Trump, while responding to the suggestion, said, "That's one method," but noted that "there are others, too." When asked if he would share the other methods, Trump refused and said, "No."

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"I suspect I won't be running again—unless you do something," said Trump to House Republicans

U.S. President Donald Trump's recent remarks on the possibility of running for president for a third term in 2028 aren't the first time he has mentioned it. Trump has been vocal about his desire to be elected more than twice, the allowed limit by the Constitution under the 22nd Amendment.

After he won election to a second term, Trump spoke to House Republicans in November.

"I suspect I won't be running again—unless you do something."

In January, 2025, while addressing a crowd of supporters at an event in Las Vegas, Donald Trump said,

"It will be the greatest honor of my life to serve not once, but twice or three times or four times. Headlines, headlines for the fake news. No, it will be to serve twice. For the next four years, I will not rest."

Conservative Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., in a statement in January, proposed an amendment to the Constitution "to revise the limitations imposed by the 22nd Amendment on presidential terms" to allow President Trump to serve three terms. He stated that Trump could provide the leadership the country needed so badly.