Donald Trump has given his verdict on whether he will campaign for President again after previously mentioning he’d run for a third term if he could.
Speaking to CNBC today, Trump said: ‘No, probably not, probably not. I’d like to … I have the best poll numbers I’ve ever had.’
The President has previously joked about running for the presidency a third time. Fervent support from his followers has made some wonder if he’s considering it seriously, however.
In November, he told House Republicans: ‘I suspect I won’t be running again unless you say “He’s so good, we have to figure it out,”‘ he said, prompting laughter from some supporters.
Trump told lawmakers he had run his last campaign unless they ‘do something’. American presidents are limited to two terms as enshrined in the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution.
In a worrying phone call with NBC News earlier this year, he said, ‘I am not joking,’ when asked to clarify a remark on seeking another term, adding, ‘There are methods which you could do it.’
Under the 22nd Amendment, no person can be president more than twice. It was added to the Constitution in 1951 after Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected four times in a row.
It reads: ‘No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.’
Any attempt to remain in office would be legally suspect, and it is unclear how seriously Trump might pursue the idea.
His own attorney general, Pam Bondi, said during her Senate confirmation hearing that he is unable to run for a third term under the Constitution as it now stands.
Asked if Trump was allowed to run for a third term in 2028, she responded: ‘No, not unless they change the Constitution.’
Trump would be 82 at the end of his second term in 2028. This would mean that he would be at least 86 by the end of a third term.
Could the Constitution be changed or overturned?
Amending the US Constitution to allow a third presidential term would require a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and Senate, which Trump’s Republican Party does not have.
Another way is a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of the states that would propose changes to the charter.
Both routes appear to be unlikely, given the current number of states and Congressional seats under Republican control.
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