“I know this is hypothetical, but if somehow the United States allowed a third presidential term, would it be possible for the Democrats to nominate former President Barack Obama to run against you?” President Trump told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on March 31. “I would love that, it would be great,” Trump said, according to the New York Post .
Previously, in an interview with NBC News on March 30, the US leader said he was not joking about running for a third term, but affirmed that this goal was still too early to realize.
Trump insists he is ‘not joking’ about wanting a third term
However, in an interview with reporters on March 31, President Trump was more cautious, saying he was not sure if he could run in 2028. However, he affirmed that this idea was supported by many people.
“I know people are asking me to run. The whole thing about running for a third term, I don’t know and I’ve never looked into it. They say there’s a way you can do it, but I don’t know about it. But I haven’t looked into it. I want to do a good job. There’s still almost four years left.”
US President Donald Trump and former US President Barack Obama (left) talk in Washington on January 9, 2025
The 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution does not allow a person to be elected president more than twice. The document does not mention any exceptions, even in the case of holding two presidential terms apart like Mr. Trump.
To amend the Constitution, an amendment must be passed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress and ratified by three-quarters of the states. The last time the US amended the Constitution was in 1992 with the 27th Amendment.
Former President Obama has not commented on Mr. Trump’s statement. Mr. Obama remains an important figure in American politics.
