Donald Trump is putting the 2028 presidential rumors to rest—for now. In a recent sit-down with NBC’s Meet the Press, the current U.S. President made it clear he’s not planning to stick around for a third term, even though the idea has been buzzing around for a while.
“I’ll be an eight-year president, I’ll be a two-term president. I always thought that was very important,” Trump said during the interview, which aired Sunday.
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This might come as a surprise to some, especially given his past comments that hinted otherwise. At one point, Trump even said he wasn’t joking about possibly going for a third or even fourth term. But now, he’s claiming those comments were just meant to stir the pot and get a reaction from the media.
Adding fuel to the speculation fire, merchandise branded with “Trump 2028” has been making the rounds, sold by Trump’s organization. That led a lot of people to wonder—was he considering it? Turns out, not really. At least, that’s what he says now.
The interview, which took place at his home in Florida, comes just after the 78-year-old president hit the 100-day mark in his second term. Trump admitted he’s felt the pressure from supporters who want him to go for more.
“So many people want me to do it,” he said, acknowledging the buzz while brushing off the idea that he would actually try to stay in office past the legal limit.
He added, “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.” While that might sound like he’s still keeping the door cracked open, Trump also made it clear that he’s not actively pursuing a third term. “This is not something I’m looking to do,” he emphasized.
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But just because he’s (allegedly) stepping aside in 2028 doesn’t mean he’s not thinking about what comes next. Trump named some potential Republican successors, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Both are rising stars in the party and now seem to have his blessing as possible future leaders.
It’s worth noting that the U.S. Constitution, specifically the 22nd Amendment, limits presidents to two terms. Changing that rule would be a monumental task, requiring a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress and ratification by three-quarters of the states.
Still, some die-hard Trump fans have floated theories that there might be a loophole in the Constitution, though legal experts have been quick to shoot that down. When asked if anyone had brought these theories to him directly, Trump didn’t get into specifics. “In a capacity of being a big supporter, many people have said different things,” he said vaguely.
So, while the “Trump 2028” hats might keep selling, it sounds like the man himself is tapping out after two terms—at least for now.