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President Donald Trump seemingly dismissed reports that he would run for a third term in office, noting that while he would like to do it, he would be unable to do so under the U.S. Constitution.
While discussing the prospects of seeking a third term with reporters, President Trump suggested that he does not plan to jump into the 2028 presidential race.
“You know, the sad thing is I have my highest poll numbers that I’ve ever had, and, you know, based on what I read, I guess I’m not allowed to run. So, we’ll see what happens,” the president told reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday while traveling to Gyeongju, South Korea.
He then touted several achievements under his second term, arguing that he ended eight wars while presiding over a booming economy, stating that 401k accounts have been hitting record highs as energy costs fall.
“We have the greatest economy we’ve ever had, I have my highest poll numbers that I’ve ever had, and you know, based on what I read, I guess I’m not allowed to run,” he continued. “So we’ll see what happens.”
“I would say that if you read it, it’s pretty clear. I’m not allowed to run. It’s too bad, but we have a lot of great people,” he added.
The president has previously addressed rumors of a potential 2028 bid, frequently weighing the constitutionality of another term in office.
While generally expressing his desire to run, the president often declines to actually do so, having been barred by the U.S. Constitution from seeking an additional term, RSBN reported.
Under the 22nd Amendment, no president can serve more than two elected terms in the United States. This amendment was passed following President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four-term presidency, which sparked support for the idea of term limits for the Executive Branch.
Prior to Roosevelt, most U.S. presidents followed the example of President George Washington, who nobly stepped down from office after two terms to set a precedent that the position of commander-in-chief was not a lifetime appointment.
Throughout U.S. history, only three presidents have sought a third term in office, with Franklin Roosevelt the only one successful in this endeavor.
Presidents Ulysses Grant and Theodore Roosevelt each sought third non-consecutive terms. However, Grant lost the Republican Party’s nomination in 1880, and Roosevelt lost in the 1912 general election while running as a “Bull Moose” third-party candidate.