US President Donald Trump

Former US President Donald Trump has once again suggested he might seek a third term, stating, “I’m not joking,” during a phone call with NBC News on Sunday.

Trump, 78, hinted at potential ways to bypass the US Constitution’s two-term limit, saying, “There are methods which you could do it.” While he acknowledged that it was “far too early to think about it,” he confirmed that he had been presented with possible plans to extend his presidency.

One suggested scenario involved Vice President JD Vance running for president and later stepping down to allow Trump to return to office. Trump responded, “That’s one” method but declined to elaborate on other possible strategies.

Any move to allow a third term would require a constitutional amendment, which necessitates approval from two-thirds of Congress or two-thirds of US states to call a constitutional convention—an event that has never occurred in US history. Any amendment would also need ratification from three-quarters of all states, making the prospect highly unlikely.

Despite the challenges, Republican Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee introduced a resolution in January to amend the Constitution and permit presidents to serve up to three terms. However, with the current political landscape, the proposal faces significant obstacles.