Despite throwing hints and launching eyebrow-raising merchandise, U.S. President Donald Trump has shut the door—at least for now—on a potential third term in office.
Speaking to The Atlantic in an interview marking his first 100 days back in the White House, Trump clarified rumors suggesting he’d nudged the Justice Department to explore legal avenues for a 2028 run. “That would be a big shattering, wouldn’t it?” he quipped. “Well, maybe I’m just trying to shatter.” Still, he insisted he never made such a request and admitted that running again after two terms would be, in his words, “a very hard thing to do.”
Trump acknowledged that some die-hard supporters have urged him to keep going beyond 2028, but he poured cold water on the idea—at least publicly. “It’s not something I’m looking to do,” he said, appearing to walk back prior comments that stoked speculation.
Yet despite dismissing a third term as far-fetched, Trump isn’t above capitalizing on the buzz. Earlier this month, his campaign store rolled out a flashy line of “TRUMP 2028” gear—hats, T-shirts, and the slogan “Rewrite the Rules”—stirring fresh rumors and raising eyebrows across the aisle.
Adding fuel to the fire, Trump had previously claimed he wasn’t joking about running again and hinted there were “methods” to do so, even with the constitutional two-term limit firmly in place. That remark lit up headlines and provoked concern that he might try to rewrite the rules—literally.
Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Republican Congressman Andy Ogles introduced a constitutional amendment to allow presidents three non-consecutive terms. So far, it’s gone nowhere, but the mere proposal shows just how far some are willing to go to entertain the possibility.
For now, Trump’s message is mixed: he’s not planning a third term—but he’s also not done teasing the idea.
