Can Trump Serve a Third Term?

Throughout Donald Trump’s second term as president, he has quietly hinted at running for a third term. He has offered different loopholes he can take to achieve this, but is this even possible?

The first option would be obvious: Trump could rerun for president in 2028 with current VP J.D. Vance. Although most logical, this is clearly not allowed under the 22nd Amendment, passed after FDR served four terms in office, dating back to the 1930s. 

His next option would be to run as VP to the Republican nominee. If the Republican nominee were to win, Trump could take over as president if the Republican nominee resigns. Trump would still struggle to gain control of the Oval Office, since under the 12th Amendment, it states, “no individual constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice President.” This means if Trump were to be elected VP and the Republican nominee resigns, he wouldn’t be allowed to become President again. 

Another way he could become president for a third term is if he were to become Speaker of the House. To become Speaker of the House, you must be approved by the House in a majority vote. Trump wouldn’t have to run for a House position because the Constitution claims they must just be approved by the House (although it’s common for the Speaker to have been a House member). Once Speaker of the House, Trump would need the Republican President and Vice President to step down, allowing Trump to return to the White House. There is a chance that the Supreme Court wouldn’t allow Trump a third term if this were to happen, but it doesn’t directly state that in the Constitution. 

Current Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R) said that he has “joked” about this with Donald Trump, and if Trump wanted a third term, he would be willing to turn to Congress to change the Constitution to help President Trump seek a third term as President. 

All of these ideas require one thing: winning. If Democrats take control of the House in 2028 or end up winning the presidency in 2028, this becomes harder for the Republicans to accomplish. The path to victory now seems unclear, with unfavorable poll numbers for both Democrats and Republicans. If Trump doesn’t do well in his second term, he could lose respect in the Republican Party, and the party could then turn to a different candidate who wouldn’t help Trump. Overall, there are some Republicans who want Trump to serve a third term, but Trump would need help from Congress, a good second term, and a Republican victory in 2028.