Wait, can he actually do that? That's the question everyone started texting the second the Trump NBC third term interview hit the airwaves. Honestly, it feels like we’re living in a loop sometimes. You’ve got the 22nd Amendment on one side, a very ambitious president on the other, and a whole lot of "wait and see" in the middle.
Basically, Donald Trump sat down with NBC’s Kristen Welker and—instead of the usual "I'm just joking" routine—he got kinda serious. He told her flat out, "I'm not joking." He hinted that there are "methods" to make a third term happen.
Now, if you’re like most people, you probably thought the two-term limit was like the law of gravity. Unbreakable. But the way the White House is talking lately, it’s clear they think they found some cracks in the floorboards.
The NBC Interview That Started the Fire
In March 2025, Kristen Welker didn't hold back. She asked the President about those "Trump 2028" hats popping up and whether he was really looking to stay past his current four years.
Trump’s response? "There are methods which you could do it."
When Welker pressed him on what those methods were, he played it close to the vest. He mentioned the idea of JD Vance running as President with Trump as the VP—the "pass the baton" strategy—but then added, "There are others too."
It’s classic Trump. He creates a mystery, lets it breathe, and watches the news cycle explode.
Why the 22nd Amendment isn't as simple as you think
Most of us learned in school that the 22nd Amendment was passed after FDR won four terms. It says "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice."
But here’s the thing about lawyers: they love a good loophole.
Some legal scholars—and clearly some people in the administration—point to that one specific word: elected.
The argument goes like this: If Trump is elected as Vice President on a ticket with someone else, and then that person resigns... is Trump being elected to the presidency? Technically, no. He’d be succeeding to it.
Is it a long shot? Absolutely.
Is it "Bond-villain-esque" as some critics say? Probably.
But in a world where "unprecedented" is the word of the decade, people are taking it seriously.
The "Vance Maneuver" and Other Long Shots
So, how does a Trump NBC third term actually look on paper? There are a few theories floating around D.C. right now, and none of them are particularly easy.
- The VP Switcheroo: As mentioned, Trump runs as VP in 2028. JD Vance (or someone else) wins, then steps down on day two. Trump becomes President without being "elected" to the office a third time.
- The Non-Consecutive Loophole: Some allies, like Rep. Andy Ogles, have floated a constitutional amendment specifically for non-consecutive terms. The logic is that if you take a break, the "dictator" fears are lower. (Good luck getting 38 states to agree on that, though.)
- The 12th Amendment Conflict: This is the big hurdle for the VP plan. The 12th Amendment says if you aren't eligible to be President, you aren't eligible to be Vice President. The courts would have to decide if "ineligible to be elected" is the same as "ineligible to serve."
Honestly, the legal gymnastics required here are enough to make your head spin. But the fact that figures like Steve Bannon are telling The Economist that people just need to "get accommodated" to Trump in '28 shows this isn't just a stray comment. It’s a strategy.
What the Experts are Saying
I talked to a few folks who live and breathe constitutional law, and the consensus is... well, it's messy.
Ilya Somin, a law professor at George Mason, says the issue isn't "airtight." That’s a scary word for people who like their democracy predictable. On the flip side, Rick Hasen from UCLA thinks this is more about Trump avoiding "lame-duck" status.
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Think about it. If everyone knows you’re leaving in four years, you lose your power on day one. By pretending you might stay forever, you keep the leverage. You keep the donors. You keep the fear.
What This Means for 2026 and Beyond
We’re staring down the 2026 midterms, and the President is already complaining that maybe we shouldn't even have elections because things are going "so well."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had to jump in and say he was "joking" and "speaking facetiously." But we’ve heard that before. When the Trump NBC third term talk first started, they said he was joking then, too.
Then he looked at the camera and said he wasn't.
If you’re trying to navigate what’s real and what’s just political theater, here are the actual facts you need to hold onto:
- The 22nd Amendment is still the law of the land.
- Amending the Constitution requires a two-thirds vote in Congress and three-fourths of the states—a near-impossible mountain to climb right now.
- Any attempt to use the "VP loophole" would immediately go to the Supreme Court.
Actionable Insights: How to Track This
If you want to stay ahead of this story, don't just watch the rallies. Watch the courts and the paperwork.
- Check the Ballot Challenges: If Trump tries to file for anything in 2028, look for "challenge" lawsuits in blue states like Colorado or Maine. That’s where the real legal war will happen.
- Watch the VP Shortlist: If the "baton pass" is the real plan, the person Trump picks as a successor in 2028 (if he isn't on the ticket) or his running mate (if he tries the VP route) is the most important person in the country.
- Monitor the 12th Amendment Rulings: Any lower court ruling regarding "eligibility to serve" versus "eligibility to be elected" will be the canary in the coal mine.
At the end of the day, whether the Trump NBC third term is a legitimate plan or just a clever bit of branding to keep the base energized, it’s changing the way we talk about the presidency. It pushes the boundaries of what we think is possible.
Keep an eye on the official Federal Register and Supreme Court dockets over the next eighteen months. If "methods" are actually being put into motion, the first signs won't be on a hat—they'll be in a legal brief.
Stay skeptical, keep reading the primary sources, and remember that in American politics, the "impossible" happens about once a week these days.