The Constitution explicitly states that Donald Trump is ineligible for a third presidential term. Nevertheless, he and his supporters continue to hint at the possibility.

“I would love to pursue it,” the U.S. President remarked aboard Air Force One on Monday during his trip to Japan, simultaneously asserting: “My approval ratings are at an all-time high.” When questioned about definitively ruling out a third term, Trump’s response remained vague: “Am I not precluding it? I mean, you’ll have to inform me.”

Trump additionally rejected a hypothetical situation where he could run for Vice President in 2028 and regain the presidency through his running mate’s resignation. “While that would technically be permissible, I wouldn’t do it,” he stated. “I believe the public wouldn’t approve of such a maneuver. It’s too clever by half. It’s not—it wouldn’t be proper.”

These recent remarks from Trump follow claims made last week by Steve Bannon, his former chief strategist and a prominent advocate for a third Trump term, who asserted the existence of a “plan” to bypass the 22nd Amendment—which expressly restricts a President to two terms. “Trump will be President in 2028,” Bannon declared, “and individuals should simply accept that fact.” Bannon refrained from divulging specifics of the plan, merely indicating that “numerous different options” exist and the method would be disclosed “at the suitable moment.”

Regardless of whether Trump genuinely intends to seek the presidency again, in contravention of the Constitution, several commentators suggest that his frequent mentions of this possibility could be a deliberate strategy.

Maintaining Republican Vigilance

Firstly, ongoing discussions about a third term could be a tactic for Trump to preserve his influence and authority within the Republican Party, .

Second terms have “generally not favored” U.S. Presidents, according to John C. Fortier and Norman J. Ornstein , primarily because the 22nd Amendment “guarantees that a reelected President transitions into a lame duck, consequently diminishing the office’s stature in the eyes of other Washington establishments.”

Although he largely retains the backing of Republican leadership, Trump has begun to encounter some internal party resistance during his second term. Previously unwavering supporters such as (R, Ga.) have exhibited increasing autonomy, particularly since July, when columnist Matt K. Lewis suggested that the Trump era appeared to be concluding. From Trump’s to his , Lewis noted, it has become “no longer ludicrously early” to consider potential successors. Term limits themselves, Lewis contended, establish “a shelf life on his importance that even the most fawning loyalists cannot indefinitely disregard.”

Will Sommer of The Bulwark similarly observed in September that the right-wing media landscape, instrumental in Trump’s ascent to the presidency, seems to be “advancing” and “considering alternatives” to him.

However, Trump’s recurring statements concerning a third term, as CNN’s Blake posits, effectively discourage Republicans from “planning for a future that will not involve him,” particularly other prospective candidates.

Bannon stated in April that any explicit discussion of a campaign prior to Trump’s future political intentions risks alienating and would provoke “absolute and outright disapproval” from the Republican base. “Trump embodies MAGA; MAGA embodies Trump.”

Keeping Democrats Vigilant

Nonetheless, maintaining public focus on himself could also benefit Trump’s ultimate Republican successor.

During the Monday informal discussion with reporters on Air Force One, Trump reiterated his notion that Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio might be suitable successors, yet his own discourse about a third term somewhat impedes —who are still seeking a candidate to unite behind—from devising a strategy for their 2028 campaign.

A Diversionary Tactic

Some commentators interpret Trump’s third-term discussions as a tactic to divert attention by provocatively challenging the left.

“His capacity to enrage adversaries is among his primary strengths, particularly when Democrats are in disarray,” pro-Trump political strategist Dave Carney informed the . “Trump thrives by unsettling and discomfiting people.”

The View co-host labeled Trump the “” and alleged that he raised the concept of remaining in office past his term limits earlier this year to divert focus from a controversy regarding leaked communications among senior officials within his Administration.

In , senior editor John Casey penned that Trump’s most recent comments were “entirely consistent with Trump’s perpetual desire for publicity and misdirection, his ‘direct your gaze here, not there’ approach.”

Casey contended that while the country “becomes preoccupied with the constitutional unfeasibility of a third Trump term, he is banking on us overlooking the disorder he is already generating,” encompassing the government shutdown, the economic impact of his tariffs, and other urgent domestic concerns.

His Intentions Are Serious

Beyond strategic considerations, surveys have indicated that a significant portion of the public believes Trump is genuinely contemplating a 2028 presidential bid, notwithstanding constitutional term limits.

Furthermore, there is a historical basis for not disregarding Trump’s disavowals. During the 2024 campaign, Trump frequently minimized his connections to the contentious conservative blueprint Project 2025, yet many of its tenets are now being embraced.

Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump staffer who served on his communications team before her resignation towards the end of his first term, has stated that the President’s remarks warrant serious consideration, particularly if figures within Trump’s circle, such as Bannon, reiterate them.

“I am sufficiently familiar with Donald Trump to believe he will not become a lame duck following the midterms,” Griffin , where she also serves as a co-host, commented on Monday. “He will not permit the focus to shift to J.D. Vance or Marco Rubio as he recedes. This is something to monitor closely. I find it unsettling.”