At a rally in Sioux City, Iowa on Thursday evening, Donald Trump made remarks suggesting he may have the right to seek a third presidential term. Trump acknowledged awareness of the 22nd Amendment, which prohibits presidents from serving more than two terms, but then invoked his long-standing assertions that Democrats “stole” the 2020 presidential election from him. He stated that because he believed the 2020 election was fraudulent, he considered himself entitled to run again.
Trump has repeatedly floated the possibility of a third-term candidacy over an extended period. In October 2025, Trump told reporters he “would love” to run for a third term. In February, at a rally in Texas, he suggested “maybe we should do one more term” and claimed he was “entitled” to it. Campaign merchandise promoting “Trump 2028” has been sold through Trump-branded stores, and Trump wore such a hat at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in July.
Allies of the president have characterized his third-term comments as humor rather than serious intent. Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House, told reporters that Trump “has a good time with that, trolling the Democrats” through third-term rhetoric, and Johnson stated he did not see a constitutional path to amend the amendment to permit Trump another candidacy.
However, critics have expressed concern that Trump may be serious about pursuing a third term. During Thursday’s rally, Trump demonstrated detailed knowledge of constitutional language, stating he had “studied that phrase for ever” and acknowledging that the 22nd Amendment contains limited ambiguity. Meanwhile, Trump has encouraged supporters to vote in November’s midterm elections as though he were on the ballot, aiming to help Republicans gain additional seats in Congress. Trump currently maintains substantial support among his political base, though his approval ratings have declined to new lows.
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