The Patriot Post® · A Third Term for Donald Trump?

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump caused yet another media meltdown after he told reporters that a third term might be in the cards. In a phone interview on Sunday, Trump explained, “A lot of people want me to do it. But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go. You know, it’s very early in the administration.”

Naturally, the likes of The Hill, The Washington Post, and Politico immediately listed all the reasons why this is a terrible — and unconstitutional — idea.

First, it’s against the Constitution. The 22nd Amendment was put in place after the four-term reign of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was president while navigating the Great Depression and WWII. However, according to Trump, those who have floated the third-term idea have also suggested there is a constitutional loophole. That loophole is that Trump can run as No. 2 on the 2028 ticket and then take the Office of the President after the elected president dies, steps down, or is otherwise declared unfit.

Trump would be old. In 2028, he would be 82 at the beginning of his third presidency.

It’s also not very loyal to his current vice president, JD Vance. If Trump really wants a lasting legacy, he should pass the baton to the next generation instead of holding on to power. He should want the legacy of George Washington, not Barack Obama.

There are other really good reasons why a third term would be preposterous. But at the end of the day, Trump is a troll master, and despite his insistence that he’s “not joking,” he is, in all likelihood, joking. He invariably mentioned the words “third term” to get a rise out of the media and watch as Trump Derangement Syndrome melts their brains.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune also believes that Trump is joking because he has a “great sense of humor.” When asked by reporters about a third term, Thune replied, “I think that you guys keep asking the question and I think he’s probably having some fun with it and probably messing with you.”

This theory of it being yet another Trump troll was underscored by an interview the president gave Monday evening. A reporter asked, “I know it’s hypothetical right now, but if you were somehow allowed to run for a third term, is there a thought that the Democrats run Barack Obama?” Trump quickly replied, “I’d love that.” But he then quickly redirected the focus to the amount of work he wants to invest in the current administration before he even turns his attention to 2028.

At this point, we’re all very used to Donald Trump’s hyperbole. It’s part of his brand. However, making trolling remarks about something highly controversial like a third presidential term is incredibly risky when you’re already polling below 50%. If Trump were polling at, say, 60%, this type of trolling wouldn’t be so politically precarious. The midterms are coming sooner than we think, and Republicans, particularly in the House, have a huge lift when it comes to keeping their already slim majority. Trump’s words and actions have down-ticket implications.

That said, he has at least succeeded in getting the Signal debacle out of the news cycle. Perhaps that was the strategy all along. Either way, Trump 2028 is likely a joke at the Left’s expense.