The key facts

  • At a rally in Iowa, Trump floated a third-term run in 2028, admitting the law leaves 'almost no room for interpretation'
  • He cited his unproven claims that Democrats rigged the 2020 election as grounds
  • The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution (1951) limits a president to two terms

Statement at an Iowa rally

US President Donald Trump, speaking at a Republican campaign rally in the state of Iowa, once again stated that he believes he has the right to run for a third presidential term in 2028, despite constitutional restrictions. This was reported by CNN, Euronews and Newsweek.

Acknowledging constitutional restrictions

According to CNN, Trump acknowledged that the legislation likely does not allow him to run again. 'I think the law says — I'm not 100 percent sure — that I'm not allowed to run again. I've studied the wording,' he said in Sioux Falls, referring to the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution. According to Newsweek, he called the amendment's wording 'too long' and noted that there is almost no room for any other interpretation.

Justification via the 2020 election

Nevertheless, Trump stated that he has the right to run, citing his unproven claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden. 'They rigged the election. They rigged that election. We showed such good results,' the president said. According to Newsweek, he claimed that he had in fact won three times and called his situation an exception. A few minutes later, as reported by Daryo.uz, Trump stated he had the right to run 'a fourth time.' The fraud claims have not been substantiated and provide no legal basis for a third term.

Context

Trump first won the 2016 election and took office in January 2017, lost to Biden in 2020, won again in 2024 and began his second term in January 2025, which ends in January 2029. Since returning to the White House, he has repeatedly raised the topic of a third term — sometimes as a joke, sometimes with caveats, sometimes with denials. The only president to serve more than two terms was Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1930–1945); after his death, Congress and the states adopted the 22nd Amendment in 1947–1951, prohibiting election more than twice.

Payment pledge

According to Daryo.uz, Trump previously promised Americans $5,000 each if Republicans win the November elections. With roughly 270 million adult US citizens, implementing this initiative could cost about $1.3 trillion.