Trump dismisses speculation about seeking third term

United States President Donald Trump has finally addressed speculation surrounding a potential bid for the 2028 presidential election, stating that he will respect the two-term limit established by the Constitution.

In an interview with NBC's Meet the Press, which aired on Sunday, Trump dismissed any suggestion of seeking a third term, despite previously making statements that hinted at the possibility. 

"I'll be an eight-year president, I'll be a two-term president. I always thought that was very important," said Trump during the interview.

He had notably remarked that he was "not joking" about pursuing a third or even fourth term, but he clarified that those comments were intended to provoke the media.

The speculation surrounding his intentions has been further fuelled by merchandise featuring "Trump 2028" that has been sold by his organisation.

In the recent interview, that took place at his Florida residence, the 78-year-old Republican president acknowledged that he has received numerous requests to consider remaining in office.

"So many people want me to do it," he said, just days after marking the first 100 days of his second term.

Despite these apparent calls for him to stay, Trump conceded that a third term is likely not possible under the current legal framework.

"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," said Trump.

He also noted the existence of "many people selling the 2028 hat" but reiterated, "this is not something I'm looking to do."

Trump then mentioned several Republicans, including US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as potential successors.

The 22nd Amendment of the Constitution explicitly limits a president to two terms. Amending this would require significant hurdles, including approval by a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, followed by approval from three-quarters of the country's state-level governments.

While some of Trump's supporters have reportedly floated theories suggesting potential loopholes in the Constitution, these remain untested and largely unsupported by legal experts.

When questioned about whether anyone approached him with such theories, Trump offered a vague response, saying that "in a capacity of being a big supporter, many people have said different things".