U.S. President Donald Trump has admitted that he is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term in office, calling the restriction “too bad” in a rare moment of concession after months of mixed signals about his political future.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday while traveling from Japan to South Korea, Trump said, “If you read it, it’s pretty clear. I’m not allowed to run. It’s too bad.”
The acknowledgment marks a notable shift from his earlier rhetoric, during which he repeatedly dodged questions about a possible third-term bid beyond 2028. He nonetheless boasted of his continued popularity, saying, “I have my highest poll numbers that I’ve ever had.”
Under the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1951, no individual can be elected president more than twice, a rule established after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four-term presidency. Repealing or amending the amendment would require approval from two-thirds of Congress and ratification by 38 states, a politically implausible task.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, one of Trump’s key allies, confirmed this week that “there is no path” for the president to pursue a third term. “He and I have talked about the constrictions of the Constitution,” Johnson said. “It’s not possible, and he understands that.”
Trump also dismissed suggestions that he might exploit a legal loophole by running as vice president in 2028, an idea floated by some of his supporters. “It’s too cute. It wouldn’t be right,” he said, calling the proposal “unnecessary.”
His remarks appear to contradict claims by former adviser Steve Bannon, who recently suggested there was a “plan” to secure Trump a third term, an idea constitutional scholars have overwhelmingly rejected as both illegal and unrealistic.
While conceding the legal barrier, Trump hinted at grooming potential successors within his administration, describing Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as “unstoppable” figures for the Republican Party’s future.
Political analysts say Trump’s latest comments, while closing the door on a third-term bid, reaffirm his enduring dominance over the GOP and his ability to shape the party’s direction heading into the 2028 race.
