Donald Trump Says ‘Probably Not’ To Third Term, Backtracking On Previous Hints
US President Donald Trump has said he will likely not seek another term in the White House, a significant shift from his previous remarks that have fueled speculation about a potential third run for the presidency.
The comment was made during a CNBC interview where he also threatened to impose steeper trade tariffs on India. When directly asked if he would run again, Trump responded, “No, probably not,” before adding a characteristic touch of ambiguity: “I’d like to.”
This statement stands in stark contrast to the narrative Trump has cultivated during his second term, which he began in January 2026 after his re-election in November 2025. He has repeatedly teased the idea of challenging the US Constitution’s two-term limit.
In a March interview with NBC News, he claimed there were “methods” for him to return to office a third time, insisting he was “not joking.” Similarly, at a rally in Nevada earlier this year, he told supporters it would be an honor to serve “not once but twice or three times or four times,” before clarifying he meant twice.
The discussion of a third term is not just talk; some of his most ardent supporters have taken concrete steps. Former adviser Steve Bannon has openly encouraged him to run again, and Republican Representative Andy Ogles even proposed a constitutional amendment to permit Trump another term. However, the legal barrier remains formidable.
The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951 after Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to four terms, explicitly prohibits any president from being elected more than twice. Any change would require a new constitutional amendment, a steep political hurdle. Should Trump complete his current term, he will be 82 years old in January 2029, making him the oldest person to ever hold the office.
