How Donald Trump could get a third term as US president | World News

Donald Trump’s second term has just begun, but that hasn’t stopped him and his allies from hinting at the possibility of a third. While speaking to House Republicans in November, Trump initially dismissed the idea before adding, “Unless you say, ‘He’s so good we’ve got to figure something else out.’”
The Constitution, however, is clear. The 22nd Amendment states:
“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.”
But Trump has a history of pushing boundaries, and this is no exception.
Trump’s History of Teasing a Third Term
Trump has alluded to serving beyond two terms since at least 2020. During a campaign rally in Reno, Nevada, he joked about negotiating for an additional term. More recently, during the 2024 campaign, he publicly dismissed the idea of challenging the 22nd Amendment—only to later make vague statements about FDR’s four-term presidency and joke about serving “three times or four times.”
At a private event in January, Trump acknowledged he was likely barred from running again but left room for doubt: “I think I’m not allowed to run again. I’m not sure. Am I allowed to run again, Mike?” he asked, referring to House Speaker Mike Johnson.
This pattern of statements has fueled speculation—and concern—about whether Trump is seriously considering a third term.
How Could Trump Try to Extend His Presidency?
A third term would face major constitutional hurdles, but legal experts have outlined several ways Trump could attempt it:
1. Amending the Constitution
The most straightforward—though least likely—option would be a constitutional amendment. Republican Rep. Andy Ogles has already introduced a resolution to change the 22nd Amendment to allow a third term, though the process is extremely difficult. It would require two-thirds support in both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states—an almost impossible threshold given political realities.
2. Exploiting a Loophole
Some legal scholars have pointed out a technical ambiguity in the 22nd Amendment: it says a president cannot be elected more than twice but does not explicitly say a two-term president cannot serve again. This has led to theories that Trump could become vice president and then ascend to the presidency through succession. However, the 12th Amendment complicates this, as it states that anyone “constitutionally ineligible” to be president is also ineligible to be vice president.
3. Ignoring the Constitution and Pushing the Courts
Some worry Trump could simply run again and force the courts to intervene. With a conservative-majority Supreme Court—including three justices he appointed—Trump’s supporters might hope for a favorable ruling. However, legal experts like Harvard’s Laurence Tribe argue that even this Supreme Court would not allow a third term, calling the possibility “less likely than an asteroid hitting Singapore tomorrow.”
4. Refusing to Leave Office
A more extreme scenario would involve Trump attempting to stay in power despite constitutional limits. His vice president, J.D. Vance, has suggested the executive branch should ignore the judicial branch, raising concerns that Trump could defy the courts. Given Trump’s past efforts to contest election results, some experts believe this scenario, while unlikely, cannot be entirely ruled out.
The Real Impact: Trump’s Influence Beyond Two Terms
Even if Trump cannot serve a third term, his influence may persist well beyond 2029. Legal scholars argue that his focus on a third term is less about actually staying in office and more about shifting political norms, distracting from other issues, and consolidating power.
Michael Klarman, a professor of legal history at Harvard, suggests that Trump’s rhetoric matters less than what he does over the next four years. “He can easily gut democracy in a way that makes it irrelevant whether he or someone else holds office in 2029.”
For now, the Constitution stands in the way of a third Trump term. But in Trump’s America, legal boundaries are often tested—and the coming years may determine just how far they can be pushed.