Trump Says He Has ‘Right’ to Run for Third Term: ‘They Cheated Us’
Trump reignites controversy over a possible third presidential term, claiming Americans were cheated as questions mount over his intentions to remain in power.
On Thursday, former President Donald Trump stated that he believes he has the “right to run again” for the presidency, even while acknowledging that the Constitution appears to bar him from seeking another term.
During a speech at a campaign rally in Iowa—ahead of the midterm elections—Mr. Trump touched upon the possibility of launching another presidential bid, while addressing his own political situation.
“I don’t know who your next president will be,” Mr. Trump said. “And I believe the law says—I’m not 100% sure, but I believe it says—that I’m not allowed to run again.”
He then acknowledged having examined this constitutional restriction, noting that it left little room for ambiguity.
“I’ve studied this passage at length,” said Mr. Trump (who is 80 years old). “Unfortunately, it is extremely clear and concise, and doesn’t leave much room for interpretation.”
Moments later, however, Mr. Trump suggested that he nonetheless had grounds to run for the presidency again, citing his—debunked—claim that the 2020 election had been stolen from him.
“They cheated the second time; we won three times, so I think I have the right to run again. I think I have the right to run again because they cheated.”
He added: “They rigged the election. They rigged it.”
President Trump on the idea of running for a third term: "I think I have the right to run again, because they cheated." https://t.co/dmyyL429zx
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What does the Constitution say?
The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states the following: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” Given that Trump was elected president in 2016 and subsequently in 2024, another presidential bid would violate the two-term limit established by this amendment.
Trump has repeatedly claimed to have won the 2020 presidential election—a contest he actually lost to Joe Biden. There is no evidence to suggest that fraud altered the outcome of that election.
The Republican president is entering the final phase of the midterm election campaign amid a sharp decline in his approval rating. Trump has reached his lowest-ever levels of support: 32% among American adults, according to a CNN/SSRS poll, and 36% among likely voters, according to a survey by The New York Times conducted in collaboration with Siena College—all as the midterm elections head into the home stretch.
On several occasions, Trump has hinted at the possibility of launching another electoral bid. In August, he told reporters that while he would like to run again, the constitutional constraints appear strict.
“I would like to run, but the law is very strict. Everyone wants me to do it, but the law is very strict,” Trump stated.
These remarks follow months of public speculation by Trump regarding the possibility of mounting another presidential campaign. At the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in July, he wore a red cap emblazoned with “Trump 2028” and told the audience: “I’ve won three times, and now I’m going to do it again.”
Trump has also shared images on social media featuring the “Trump 2028” slogan, while his allies have occasionally floated ways he might remain in power beyond his current term. Conversely, on other occasions, Trump has spoken about leaving the White House in January 2029, noting that he would then follow his successor’s actions from his own home.
His recent remarks in Iowa, however, went further: he put forward a specific argument to justify why, in his view, he should be permitted to run again.
