Donald Trump gave a head-scratching response when asked if he plans to run for a third term—something that’s clearly banned by the U.S. Constitution.
In an interview with The Atlantic published Monday, Trump was asked directly about the idea. He didn’t say no. Instead, he laughed and gave a cryptic answer: “That would be a big shattering, wouldn’t it?” he said. “Well, maybe I’m just trying to shatter.”
Trump admitted it would be difficult to pull off, saying, “It’s not something that I’m looking to do. And I think it would be a very hard thing to do.” But he stopped short of ruling it out entirely.
His comments come just days after his team started selling “Trump 2028” hats and T-shirts on the Trump Organization’s website. The product description reads, “The future looks bright!” and urges buyers to “rewrite the rules.”
When Axios asked the White House about the merch, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said a third term is “not something [Trump is] thinking of,” but added, “Though I hear the hats are flying off shelves.”
Legally, a third term isn’t allowed. The 22nd Amendment clearly limits presidents to two terms. Overturning that would require two-thirds of Congress and approval from 38 states—a political mountain that’s nearly impossible to climb.
Still, Trump keeps teasing the idea. Last month, he told NBC News, “There are methods which you could do it,” while again pushing the false claim that he actually won the 2020 election.
The timing of Trump’s bizarre remark has also raised questions. Recent polls show his approval ratings have sunk to historic lows for any president this early into a second term. A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found just 39% of Americans approve of how he’s handling the job.
