President Donald Trump says he’s not interested in becoming vice president in 2028, but his comments haven’t stopped speculation about his political future or talk of bending constitutional rules to keep him in power.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One early Monday en route to Japan, Trump acknowledged the possibility but dismissed the idea in his signature style.
“I’d be allowed to do that,” Trump said. “But I would rule that out because it’s too cute. I think the people wouldn’t like that. It’s too cute. It wouldn’t be right.”
His remarks come amid growing chatter among loyal supporters calling for him to seek a third term, despite the clear limits set by the U.S. Constitution.
Why Trump Can’t Run Again
The U.S. Constitution is explicit about presidential term limits. The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, states:
“No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice…”
It also adds that anyone who has served more than two years of another president’s term may only be elected once.
Meanwhile, the 12th Amendment closes another loophole, declaring that: “No person constitutionally ineligible to the office of president shall be eligible to that of vice president of the United States.”
In short, even if Trump were to run as someone else’s vice president, he couldn’t legally assume the presidency again. The only way around that restriction would be a constitutional amendment, which would require a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate and ratification by three-fourths of all U.S. states, a nearly impossible political feat.
The “Third Term” Fantasy Lives On
Still, Trump’s allies continue to fuel speculation. Last week, former aide Steve Bannon claimed there’s “a plan” to bring Trump back to the White House after the next presidential election.
“He’s going to get a third term. Trump is going to be president in ‘28 and people ought to just get accommodated with that,” Bannon told The Economist.
When asked how that could happen, given the constitutional barrier, Bannon teased that there were “many different alternatives” to keep Trump as president.
Trump himself has kept the idea alive, often with humor and digital theatrics. He recently posted an AI-generated video on Truth Social mocking critics worried about term-limit changes. The video, shared on October 19, showed a fake Time magazine cover flashing slogans such as “Trump 2028,” “Trump 2032,” and ending with “Trump 4EVA.”
The post went viral, notably appearing just a day after more than seven million Americans joined “No Kings” protests nationwide opposing efforts to extend his time in office.
Even his campaign merchandise has joined in. Back in April, the Trump Store began selling “Trump 2028” hats and shirts featuring the tagline, “Rewrite the Rules.”
