President Trump’s recent comment that he plans to leave office in “eight or nine years” has reignited a national conversation about whether he could — or would — seek a third term in 2028. The remark sparked a surge in online searches for “Can Donald Trump run for a third term?” and thrust what was once considered fringe speculation into mainstream political discourse.
The constitutional answer appears straightforward. The Twenty-second Amendment, ratified in 1951 following Franklin Roosevelt’s unprecedented four-term presidency, states clearly: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” But attorney Alan Dershowitz and a handful of Trump allies suggest the text may contain exploitable ambiguities.
Dershowitz Drops a Book Into the Mix
In April 2026, Dershowitz released a book titled “Could President Trump Constitutionally Serve a Third Term?” that examines potential loopholes in the amendment’s language. He reportedly delivered a copy directly to Trump. Among the theories floated: the vice-president end-run strategy, which would involve Trump running as vice president in 2028, then assuming the presidency after the elected president resigns. Another concept, the speaker of the House strategy, would have Trump elected House speaker — a position that doesn’t require congressional membership — and use the presidential line of succession to reach the Oval Office again.
Trump himself has dismissed such approaches as “too cute,” saying that “the people wouldn’t like that.” House Speaker Mike Johnson has also expressed skepticism about any constitutional pathway to a third term, suggesting the president is primarily “trolling the Democrats.”
Judicial Nominees Spark New Alarm
The debate intensified during recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearings when multiple Trump judicial nominees refused to state definitively that the Twenty-second Amendment prevents Trump from pursuing a third term. Senators including Chris Coons pressed the nominees on the question, but they avoided giving direct answers. Legal experts and political observers called the evasiveness troubling, viewing it as an unwillingness to affirm a fundamental constitutional constraint.
Legal writer Ruth Marcus suggested during an October 29, 2025 conversation with executive editor Michael Luo at The New Yorker Festival that Trump’s repeated hints serve multiple strategic purposes: energizing his base, maintaining his political relevance, and creating useful distractions. If any third-term effort reached the courts, Justice Amy Coney Barrett and her Supreme Court colleagues would likely render the decisive judgment.
The Hats, the Hints, the Hullabaloo
Trump 2028 hats available through the Trump Organization’s official website have become a flashpoint in the controversy. Images of the merchandise have circulated widely on social media platforms, amplifying speculation about the president’s true intentions. Meanwhile, Trump has discussed potential 2028 Republican ticket scenarios involving Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio while keeping his own plans deliberately ambiguous. He has continued to discuss legal theories surrounding a potential third term while simultaneously claiming he doesn’t “believe in using loopholes.”
On May 2, 2025, Steve Bannon told The Economist, “Trump is going to be President in ’28,” hinting at “a plan.” Trump responded aboard Air Force One by saying he “would love to do it,” but acknowledged several days later that “it’s pretty clear, I’m not allowed to run.”
What Trump Voters Are Actually Saying
Many of Trump’s own supporters oppose the idea. In a discussion covered by Raven Ishak, user Toxiholic asked MAGA voters whether they would support a Trump third term. The responses tilted decisively toward “no.” One voter commented, “I voted for him, but term limits need to stay in place — in fact, all politicians should have term limits.” Some respondents went further, arguing that any secretary of state who permitted Trump on a 2028 ballot should face prosecution — a reference to state officials’ authority to disqualify candidates under election law.
The constitutional reality remains unchanged: a new president is scheduled to take office January 20, 2029, and 2032 represents the next opportunity for leaders like Vice President Vance. Yet Trump, along with his allies and certain legal theorists, continues to keep the third-term question in circulation — and the country remains transfixed by the possibility, however remote.
Sources:
https://www.newyorker.com/newsletter/the-daily/why-trump-keeps-talking-about-a-third-term
https://www.yahoo.com/news/maga-supporters-revealing-support-president-203639864.html
