President Donald Trump has openly stated that he is “not joking” about the possibility of pursuing a third term in office, despite the constitutional prohibition under the 22nd Amendment, which limits presidents to two terms. In a recent interview with NBC, Trump acknowledged that there are “methods” to potentially bypass this restriction but declined to elaborate on specific strategies.
NBC News posed a hypothetical scenario in which Vice President JD Vance might run for office and subsequently pass the role to Trump. Trump responded, “That’s one” method.
“But there are others too,” Trump added.
When asked to share another method, Trump simply replied, “No”.
The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, explicitly states that “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” It also bars anyone who has served more than two years of another president’s term from being elected more than once. This amendment was introduced after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s unprecedented four terms in office and has since been a firm barrier against extended presidential tenure.
Trump’s allies in Congress have proposed measures to amend the Constitution and allow for a third term. Representative Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) introduced a resolution to modify the 22nd Amendment, permitting any president to serve a third term if their first two terms were non-consecutive. This proposal would require approval by two-thirds of both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures—a process widely regarded as politically and logistically improbable.
Legal experts have pointed out potential loopholes in the 22nd Amendment. For example, while it prohibits being elected president more than twice, it does not explicitly prevent someone from assuming the role through succession. This has led to speculation that Trump could run as vice president on a ticket where the presidential candidate resigns after taking office, effectively allowing him to return to power without violating the amendment’s language.
