Constitutional Roadblock: Trump Acknowledges He Cannot Seek a Third Presidential Term

President Donald Trump acknowledged on Wednesday that constitutional limitations prevent him from seeking a third term in office, despite expressing his desire to continue serving as president.

"If you read it, it's pretty clear," Trump stated to reporters while traveling on Air Force One from Japan to South Korea. "I'm not allowed to run. It's too bad."

These remarks follow a pattern of occasional speculation by Trump about extending his presidency beyond the two-term limit, coming just one day after House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed the constitutional impossibility of such a scenario.

"I don't see the path for that," Johnson told reporters at the US Capitol on Tuesday.

Johnson, who has aligned his political career closely with Trump, revealed that he had discussed this constitutional matter directly with the president.

"He and I have talked about the constrictions of the Constitution," Johnson explained.

The Speaker elaborated on how the 22nd Amendment explicitly prohibits a president from serving more than two terms, noting that amending this provision would require an extensive process spanning potentially a decade, with approval needed from states and Congress.

"But I can tell you that we are not going to take our foot off the gas pedal," Johnson added. "We're going to deliver for the American people, and we've got a great run ahead of us — he'll have four strong years."

Trump was less definitive when discussing his conversation with Johnson regarding term limits.

"Based on what I read, I guess I'm not allowed to run," Trump remarked on Wednesday. "So we'll see what happens."

The topic of extending Trump's presidency has circulated in his circles, with "Trump 2028" hats being distributed as souvenirs to White House visitors, and former campaign chief Stephen Bannon reviving discussions about a potential third term.

When asked about his interest in continuing to serve, Trump told reporters on Monday during his flight to Japan, "I would love to do it."

He subsequently mentioned that the Republican Party has strong candidates for future presidential elections, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance.

"All I can tell you is that we have a great group of people," Trump stated.

When pressed about ruling out a third-term bid or potentially running as vice president to later assume the presidency, Trump dismissed the latter strategy as "too cute."

"You'd be allowed to do that, but I wouldn't do that," he said.

These discussions emerge as Trump continues to test the boundaries of presidential authority through various actions, including deploying National Guard troops to cities despite governors' objections, accepting private donations for military funding and White House renovations, and making unilateral decisions during the government shutdown.

Johnson downplayed concerns about Trump's third-term comments, suggesting the president was merely "trolling the Democrats" and enjoying the reaction from critics whose "hair is on fire."