United States President, Donald Trump, has refuted speculation that he might seek a third term in office, emphasizing that he intends to serve only the constitutionally permitted two terms.
In an interview with Kristen Welker on NBC’s Meet the Press, aired Sunday, Trump said, “I’ll be an eight-year president, I’ll be a two-term president. I always thought that was very important.”
The 78-year-old Republican’s statement appears to put to rest ongoing chatter about his potential desire to exceed the limits established by the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Trump has in the past made provocative remarks about pursuing a third or even fourth term, stating on one occasion that he was “not joking” about it.
However, he later clarified that such comments were intended to provoke reactions from what he calls the “fake news media.”
Adding to public curiosity, merchandise such as “Trump 2028” hats being sold by The Trump Organization has fueled speculation.
Addressing this in the interview, which was recorded at his Florida residence on Friday, Trump acknowledged the buzz, “So many people want me to do it,” he said, referring to calls for him to remain in office beyond a second term.
Still, he acknowledged the legal restriction: “It’s something that, to the best of my knowledge, you’re not allowed to do. I don’t know if that’s constitutional that they’re not allowing you to do it or anything else,” he noted. He also remarked, “There are many people selling the 2028 hat,” but concluded, “This is not something I’m looking to do.” Trump went on to name potential Republican successors such as Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The U.S. Constitution’s 22nd Amendment explicitly states that “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” Changing that would require significant legislative action, approval by two-thirds of both Congressional chambers and ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures.
Nonetheless, certain Trump supporters have floated untested constitutional loopholes. When asked whether anyone had approached him with such theories, Trump replied vaguely, “In a capacity of being a big supporter, many people have said different things.”
Economy, Tariffs, and Supply Chain: Trump Defends His Policies
During the sit-down, Trump also addressed concerns about the economy, which recently contracted for the first time since 2022—largely attributed to his new tariff strategy.
“Look, yeah. Everything’s OK,” Trump said, defending his economic approach. He characterized the current economic dip as a “transition period,” adding, “I think we’re going to do fantastically.”
While acknowledging that “anything can happen,” Trump expressed optimism: “I think we’re going to have the greatest economy in the history of our country.”
He also suggested tariffs might remain a long-term fixture, stating, “If somebody thought they were going to come off the table, why would they build in the United States?”
Asked whether Americans might face limited product availability, Trump replied, “No, I’m not saying that. I’m just saying they don’t need to have 30 dolls. They can have three.” He continued, “They don’t need to have 250 pencils. They can have five.”
Constitutional Concerns and Deportation Policy
Trump also fielded questions about the Fifth Amendment and the legal rights of immigrants. Critics have accused his administration of violating due process by deporting individuals who had not yet faced formal charges.
NBC’s Welker asked whether he was upholding the Constitution in light of these criticisms.
“Don’t you need to uphold the Constitution of the United States as president?” she asked, referencing the oath of office.
Trump responded, “I don’t know. I have to respond by saying, again, I have brilliant lawyers that work for me, and they are going to obviously follow what the Supreme Court said.”
A recent Supreme Court ruling instructed the administration to help repatriate a migrant who had been mistakenly deported to El Salvador. The administration argued it lacked the authority to reverse the deportation.
International Policy: Greenland and Canada
In foreign policy, Trump said he could not “rule out” military action to annex Greenland but dismissed any military intent toward Canada.
“I don’t see it with Canada,” he said, after Canadian voters elected Liberal Party leader Mark Carney as prime minister in a rebuke of conservative forces. Trump commented, “They think we are going to protect them, and really we are,” before adding, “But the truth is, they don’t carry their full share, and it’s unfair to the United States and our taxpayers.”
Carney is set to meet with Trump at the White House on Tuesday.
Border Emergency Continues
On immigration, Trump stood by his decision to declare a state of emergency at the U.S. border on day one of his second term.
He claimed the border is now “the most secure” it has ever been, prompting Welker to ask why the emergency order remains active.
Trump insisted the crisis now lies within the judicial system. “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.
“It’s an overall emergency on immigration,” Trump emphasized, asserting that he has no immediate plans to rescind the emergency declaration.
