US President Donald Trump has denied he is seeking a third term in office, asserting that he intends to adhere to the constitutional limit of two terms, despite previous remarks and merchandise suggesting otherwise.
In an interview aired Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker, the 78-year-old president dismissed speculation surrounding his political future beyond January 2029. “I’ll be an eight-year president, I’ll be a two-term president. I always thought that was very important,” he said during the sit-down, which was recorded at his Florida residence.
The clarification comes amid renewed public attention after The Trump Organization began selling “Trump 2028” hats, prompting speculation over whether the president might attempt to extend his tenure beyond the two-term limit set by the US Constitution.
“I’m not looking to do it,” Trump stated, acknowledging that many of his supporters have urged him to remain in office. “So many people want me to do it... but to the best of my knowledge, you're not allowed to do it. I don't know if that's constitutional that they're not allowing you to do it or anything else.”
He went on to name potential Republican successors, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, suggesting that leadership beyond 2029 would be passed on.
The US Constitution’s 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, states: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” Any change to the amendment would require a complex legislative process, including two-thirds approval in both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-quarters of state legislatures.
Some Trump supporters have floated the idea of a constitutional loophole that could permit a third term, though such interpretations remain untested in court. When asked if anyone had approached him with these theories, Trump said, “Many people have said different things,” while refraining from endorsing the idea.
Defends tariff policy amid economic slowdown
The interview also covered Trump’s handling of the US economy, which has recently experienced its first contraction since 2022, largely attributed to his tariff measures. Defending his approach, Trump described the downturn as a “transition period.”
“I think we’re going to do fantastically,” he said, while refusing to rule out the possibility of a permanent tariff regime. “If somebody thought they were going to come off the table, why would they build in the United States?”
Downplaying concerns about shortages, Trump added: “They don’t need to have 30 dolls. They can have three… They don’t need to have 250 pencils. They can have five.”
Questions over due process and deportations
Welker also pressed the president on constitutional rights, particularly the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee of due process, amid criticism that his deportation policies have bypassed legal safeguards.
When asked whether his administration was violating the Constitution by removing individuals without allowing them to appear in court, Trump replied, “I have brilliant lawyers that work for me, and they are going to obviously follow what the Supreme Court said.”
The remark followed a recent ruling by the Supreme Court ordering the federal government to facilitate the return of a man mistakenly deported to El Salvador. The administration has argued it lacks the authority to compel foreign governments to comply.
Military force 'not on the table' for Canada
In a separate portion of the interview, Trump said he does not foresee military action against Canada, dismissing rumours following Canada’s recent election, in which Liberal Party leader Mark Carney secured an unexpected victory.
“I don’t see it with Canada,” Trump said, though he reiterated his view that US allies must contribute more to their own defense. “They think we are going to protect them, and really we are… but the truth is, they don’t carry their full share.”
Carney is expected to visit the White House on Tuesday for bilateral discussions.
Trump also defended his controversial immigration emergency declaration, imposed on his first day in office, despite data showing a sharp decline in illegal border crossings.
“We have the most secure border we’ve ever had,” he claimed, yet maintained that the emergency remains in effect due to ongoing legal hurdles.
“The big emergency right now is that we have thousands of people that we want to take out, and we have some judges that want everybody to go to court,” he said, arguing the judicial process itself constitutes an emergency.
