US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that he is constitutionally barred from running for a third term, calling the restriction “too bad” a rare moment of concession after months of mixed signals about his political future.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday while traveling from Japan to South Korea, Trump said, “If you read it, it’s pretty clear. I’m not allowed to run. It’s too bad.”
His comments mark a notable shift from earlier statements where he had repeatedly refused to rule out the possibility of another run beyond 2028. “I have my highest poll numbers that I’ve ever had,” he added, insisting that his popularity remains strong even as the Constitution prevents him from contesting again.
The U.S. Constitution’s 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, explicitly restricts any individual from being elected president more than twice, a measure introduced after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s unprecedented four terms in office. Any attempt to repeal or amend it would require a lengthy and complex process involving approval by two thirds of both chambers of Congress and ratification by at least 38 states.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, one of Trump’s closest allies, confirmed earlier in the week that there was “no path” for Trump to pursue a third term. “He and I have talked about the constrictions of the Constitution,” Johnson said. “It’s not possible, and he understands that.”
Johnson explained that amending the Constitution would take years and widespread bipartisan support, a scenario he described as “virtually impossible.”
Trump, however, dismissed suggestions that he could instead run as vice president in 2028, an idea floated by some of his supporters as a potential loophole. “It’s too cute. It wouldn’t be right,” he told reporters, calling the proposal “unnecessary.”
The comments appear to distance Trump from recent claims by his former adviser Steve Bannon, who suggested there was a “plan” to secure a third term for the president. Legal experts have widely rejected such suggestions as unconstitutional and politically impractical.
Despite conceding to the legal barrier, Trump hinted at grooming successors within his administration, naming Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as “unstoppable” figures for the future of the Republican Party.
Political observers say Trump’s remarks, while finally clarifying his stance, underline his continued dominance within the GOP and his influence over the direction of US politics heading into the 2028 race.
Ademide Adebayo
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