In an interview with NBC on March 30th, 2025, President Donald Trump conveyed interest in pursuing a third term, stating he was “not joking” at the prospect and that “a lot of people want [him] to do it”. When questioned about how he planned to go about seeking a third term, Trump admitted that he could see a method in which current Vice President J.D. Vance would run for President with Trump as Vice President and then pass the role onto Trump. President Trump did not identify other potential methods of seeking a third term.
What Does the Constitution Say?
The twenty-second amendment of the U.S. Constitution imposes a two term limit on the Presidency. Additionally, the twelfth amendment of the Constitution states that people who are constitutionally ineligible to run for President are also ineligible to run for Vice President. Since Trump has already reached his two-term limit, he is ineligible to serve as President and thus ineligible to run for Vice President under the Constitution. In sum, it would be unconstitutional for President Trump to run for Vice President or for a third term as President.
A Third Term: What Would it Take?
Article V of the Constitution specifies that the Constitution can only be amended by either a two-thirds vote from both chambers of Congress or a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of all states that ratifies an amendment with a three-fourths majority vote. While 11,000 constitutional amendments have been proposed in U.S. history, only 27 have been ratified. The overwhelming majority required to achieve a Constitutional Amendment makes it highly unlikely that President Trump will be able to achieve a third term through these means.
Reactions and Controversy
In reaction to President Trump’s statements, prominent Republican politicians have attempted to downplay Trump’s intentions of running for a third term. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that President Trump is likely “going to be finished” when his term ends in 2029. Additionally, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson admitted that running for a third term would be a “high bar” and that there would be “constitutional limitations.”
Some Democrats caution against interpreting President Trump’s statements about a third term as hyperbole, with former Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH) stating, “[Seeking a third term] is a serious thing and he is capable of doing it.” Representative Dan Goldman (D-NY)—who has introduced and reintroduced resolutions to affirm the twenty-second amendment’s two-term limit—went farther in his condemnation of Trump’s suggestions. He stated, “Republicans are waging an all-out attack on the Judiciary to clear the way for Trump to serve a third term.”
However, some lawmakers advocate for a third presidential term. On January 25, 2023, Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN) introduced a joint resolution to extend the Presidency to a three-term limit, arguing it would allow President Trump to “sustain the bold leadership our nation so desperately needs.”
As the debate continues, only time will tell whether President Trump intends to act on his controversial statements about pursuing a third term.
