President Donald Trump’s path to a potential third term remains legally murky, and even his own allies are casting doubt on the possibility.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, who serves in Trump’s second administration, told Fox News on two months ago that serving a third term would be a “heavy lift” under the Constitution. Bondi’s comments signal a potential softening of her earlier position, which firmly rejected the notion during her Senate confirmation hearing.
We’d Have to Look at the Constitution
When asked whether Trump could pursue a third term, Bondi said, “I think he’s going to be finished probably after this term.” She added that any effort to extend his time in office beyond the constitutional two-term limit would require revisiting the Constitution. During her confirmation hearing, Bondi was more definitive, saying such a move would not be legal “unless they change the Constitution.”
Trump, however, has been less definitive. In multiple public appearances and interviews, he has teased the possibility of seeking a third term.
In a March interview on Meet the Press, he said, “It’s very early in the administration,” but claimed “a lot of people would like me to” run again. When pressed by host Kristen Welker, he said he was “not joking” about wanting a third term and hinted at undisclosed “methods” he could pursue to make it happen.
The 22nd Amendment: Clear But Not Comprehensive?
The U.S. Constitution’s 22nd Amendment explicitly limits a president to two elected terms, stating:
“No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
This language leaves open some legal ambiguity, particularly around the question of whether a former two-term president can serve again if they aren’t elected to the office—such as ascending via the line of succession.
Legal scholars Bruce G. Peabody and Scott E. Gant have previously noted in a 1999 law review article that while political tradition discourages third terms, there’s no explicit prohibition on a two-term president serving again via succession—like through the vice presidency.
Trump seemed to acknowledge this possibility during the Meet the Press interview, agreeing with the idea that he could run as vice president in 2028 and assume the presidency if the elected president resigns. Still, that approach would raise significant legal challenges, as the 12th Amendment states that no person constitutionally ineligible to serve as president may serve as vice president either.
Constitutional Amendment? Unlikely.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) has introduced a resolution to amend the Constitution to allow non-consecutive three-term presidencies—seemingly tailored for Trump’s scenario. But such a measure would face a nearly insurmountable path.
Constitutional amendments require two-thirds majorities in both the House and Senate, followed by ratification from three-quarters of state legislatures. With Democrats controlling multiple states and only a slim GOP majority in the House, the proposal is almost certain to fail.
Global Parallels and Domestic Consequences
If Trump were to successfully test or circumvent the 22nd Amendment, he would join a global trend of leaders who’ve sidestepped term limits. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have both remained in power well beyond traditional term limits by changing their countries’ constitutions or manipulating succession laws.
Legal scholars warn that such moves undermine democratic norms—even if technically allowed under a nation’s legal framework.
In the United States, term limits have been viewed as a key constitutional safeguard since President George Washington voluntarily stepped down after two terms in 1796. That tradition was only codified after President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to four terms, leading to the ratification of the 22nd Amendment in 1951.
What’s Next?
Despite Bondi’s cautious remarks and the daunting legal road ahead, Trump and his allies—including former advisor Steve Bannon—continue to hint that plans for a third term are actively being explored.
Bannon told NewsNation in May that they were “working on” potential options for a Trump 2028 ticket.
Whether Trump seriously attempts to defy the constitutional limit or simply keeps the notion alive for political leverage remains to be seen. But legal experts agree: any serious attempt would immediately be met with court challenges—and likely head straight to the Supreme Court.
