During a campaign rally in Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday evening, Donald Trump once again sparked discussion regarding the possibility of seeking a third term as president. While addressing the crowd, Trump joked that he possesses the right to run for office again, a claim he has frequently made despite the clear prohibitions established by the US constitution.
Trump appeared to acknowledge the legal reality of the situation during his remarks, stating, "I don’t know who is going to be your next president and I think the law said, I’m not 100% sure, but I think the law says I’m not allowed to run again." He further noted that he has studied the constitutional language, admitting, "I’ve studied that phrase for ever. Unfortunately, it’s quite concise. There’s not a lot of wiggle room. It says something to the effect that ‘under no circumstances and for any reason will you even consider thinking about running for president if you had – ’."
Despite this recognition, Trump pivoted to his longstanding, unfounded claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him. "Well, the one thing is different: they cheated us on the second one because we won it three times. So I think I have the right to run again," he said, laughing. He added with a coy smile, "I think I have the right to run again because they cheated," which drew applause from his supporters.
This rhetoric is consistent with previous instances where Trump has teased a third-term bid. In October 2025, he told reporters he "would love" to run again, and at a Texas rally in February, he claimed he was "entitled" to one more term. The Trump store has even sold "Trump 2028" hats, one of which the president wore during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in July.
While opponents have expressed concern that these comments reflect a genuine intent to violate the constitution, allies often frame them as humor. House Speaker Mike Johnson previously remarked that Trump "has a good time with that, trolling the Democrats," noting that he does not see a path to amending the constitution to permit a third term. Meanwhile, Trump has encouraged his supporters to vote as if he were on the ballot in the upcoming midterms, a strategy that comes as his approval ratings have reached new lows.
