Trump’s Potential Third Term and Tensions with Russia: A Closer Look
As President Donald Trump arrived back in Washington from Florida aboard Air Force One, a contentious discussion about his potential third term in office unfolded. Trump, while addressing reporters, refrained from definitively stating that he wouldn’t remain in office beyond January 20, 2029. “We have a long way to go before we can even think about that,” he remarked, emphasizing the extended timeframe ahead.
The conversation, which followed a weekend in Florida, was fueled by Trump’s earlier statements to NBC News. In that interview, he declared he “was not joking” about the prospect of a third term. Trump revealed to reporters, “I’m not looking at that, but I’ll tell you I’ve had more people ask me to have a third term.”
The U.S. Constitution, however, clearly enforces a two-term limit for the presidency. When probed further, Trump noted, “I don’t want to talk about a third term now because no matter how you look at it, we have a long time to go. We have almost four years to go. And that’s a long time.” In the NBC News interview, Trump hinted at “methods” that could potentially enable a third term.
‘I’m not joking’
During the interview, Trump, at 78 years old, reiterated his seriousness about a possible third term. “A lot of people want me to do it,” he said, according to NBC News. “But we have – my thinking is, we have a long way to go. I’m focused on the current.” He mentioned one possible strategy: Vice President JD Vance winning the presidency and subsequently transferring power back to Trump. Yet, he withheld further details on other potential plans.
Amending the Constitution to allow a third term would require significant political maneuvering, including a two-thirds Congressional vote or a constitutional convention requested by 34 states. Trump’s comments appeared to leverage his popularity rather than constitutional arguments. “A lot of people would like me to do that,” he reiterated to NBC News, adding it’s still early in his administration.
Support from allies is evident, with former adviser Steve Bannon endorsing him for the 2028 campaign and Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., proposing a constitutional amendment to allow a third term shortly after Trump’s second inauguration.
‘Very angry’ with Putin
In addition to domestic political discussions, Trump expressed strong emotions regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent critique of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s leadership. Describing himself as “pissed off” and “very angry,” Trump threatened sanctions against Russia should they fail to cooperate with a proposed ceasefire agreement.
These tensions follow Putin’s comments calling for a “transitional administration” in Ukraine and urging the Russian military to “finish off” the Ukrainian forces, as reported by Agence France-Presse. Trump warned that failure to reach an agreement would result in secondary tariffs on Russian oil, potentially ranging from 25% to 50%.
Despite his frustration, Trump maintained he has a “very good relationship” with Putin, noting recent conversations and planning further discussions this week. The backdrop to these developments is a fragile ceasefire agreement in the Black Sea region, brokered after meetings in Riyadh, which both Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of violating.
For more information on the ceasefire agreement, visit NPR’s coverage on the Black Sea ceasefire.
