John AdoyiIn a move reminiscent of the political maneuvers often seen in African political landscape, Donald Trump, the 47th President of the United States, has expressed interest in seeking a third term in office.
Despite the US Constitution explicitly barring presidents from serving more than two terms, Trump has hinted at exploring ways to remain in power beyond 2028.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIn a phone interview with NBC News on Sunday, Trump addressed speculations about his future ambitions, stating, “No, I’m not joking, I’m not joking. But it is far too early to think about it.” He added, “There are methods which you could do it, as you know,” but refused to elaborate on what those methods might be.
The US Constitution’s 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, strictly limits presidents to two four-year terms, whether consecutive or not.
Trump, who secured a second, non-consecutive term in 2024 after defeating Kamala Harris, would therefore be ineligible to run again in 2028 under the current legal framework.
However, Trump and his supporters have not dismissed the possibility of amending this rule.
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His longtime adviser, Steve Bannon, suggested in a March 19 interview with NewsNation that Trump may seek re-election in 2028. “We’re working on it,” Bannon said, adding that his team was exploring ways to reinterpret the definition of term limits to facilitate a third term.
Efforts to extend presidential term limits are already underway in Congress. In January, Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee introduced a resolution advocating a constitutional amendment that would allow a president to serve up to three terms—provided they did not serve two consecutive terms. This proposal is seen as an effort to pave the way for Trump’s return to office in 2028. However, amending the Constitution would require a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate, as well as ratification by three-quarters of the 50 states, making it a formidable challenge.
When pressed on alternative strategies, Trump remained cryptic. During the interview, NBC’s Kristen Welker asked if a scenario similar to Russia’s 2008 leadership shuffle could be an option. In that year, Vladimir Putin, barred from seeking a third consecutive term, switched positions with his Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, before reclaiming the presidency in 2012. When asked whether his Vice President JD Vance could run in 2028 and then step down for him, Trump responded, “Well, that’s one. But there are others too. There are others.”
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The tradition of a two-term limit dates back to 1796, when George Washington voluntarily stepped down after two terms. It remained an unwritten rule until Franklin D. Roosevelt won a third term in 1940 and died months into his fourth term in 1945, prompting Congress to formalize the restriction with the 22nd Amendment.
If Trump succeeds in his efforts, he would join the ranks of long-serving African leaders like Paul Biya of Cameroon, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, and Paul Kagame of Rwanda, who have remained in power for decades.
When asked by NBC’s Kristen Welker if he would consider passing the baton to JD Vance in 2028, Trump was noncommittal. “It is too early to think about it,” he said, reaffirming his deep attachment to the presidency.
With the 2028 election still years away, Trump’s remarks have already ignited debate about the resilience of American democratic institutions and the potential for a historic constitutional change.
