It has been just over a year since President Donald Trump began his second term, and he is already hinting at staying in power far longer. At a recent White House summit attended by small business owners and entrepreneurs, Trump announced that he plans to leave office around eight or nine years from now. The crowd responded with loud applause.
Before making that comment, Trump was speaking about his administration’s work on small business policy. He said that the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill included a provision allowing businesses to deduct 100% of the cost of new facilities, equipment, and capital investment in the first year. According to Mediaite, he called it a major win for the business community.
Trump then made a remark that caught many off guard. “I was really going to make it for a one-year period,” he said, “but I gave you too much time. I was sort of against that. I said, ‘Let’s do it for a shorter period of time.’ But we didn’t. It’s the right thing.” He then added: “And this way when I get out of office in that let’s say eight or nine years from now, I’ll be able to use it myself.”
Trump has repeatedly hinted at serving beyond two terms, but the Constitution stands in the way
This is not the first time Trump has floated the idea of staying in office beyond two terms. He has joked about it at rallies and even had “Trump 2028” hats made available, with some allies taking the signals seriously and looking into possible legal or political pathways to make it happen.
One idea floated by some Trump allies is for him to run as vice president in 2028 alongside another presidential candidate, who would then resign after winning, allowing Trump to take over the presidency again.
However, legal scholars have pointed out a major problem with this plan. The 12th Amendment to the US Constitution states that no person who is constitutionally ineligible to be president can serve as vice president either, which would block Trump from this route.
Despite that, Trump has continued to leave the door open. In a recent interview, he said that he “would love to do it” and that he has his “best numbers ever.” When a reporter asked whether he was ruling out a third term, Trump responded, “Am I not ruling it out? I mean, you’ll have to tell me.” Meanwhile, Trump’s foreign policy moves are adding more pressure on his administration, with reports that his officials admit he is running out of options on Iran.
Trump is currently serving his second term, which means he is barred from running for president again under the 22nd Amendment, which limits a person to two elected terms as president. His comments about leaving office in “eight or nine years” would place the end of his time in office well beyond January 2029, when his current term is set to end, reports Al Jazeera.
The remarks have drawn attention from across the political spectrum, with some viewing them as jokes and others treating them as a genuine signal of intent. On other foreign policy fronts, Trump has also made bold moves, including ordering the US military to escort ships through Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a move Iran called a violation of their truce.
Whether Trump is seriously exploring ways to remain in power or simply enjoying the reaction his comments generate, the conversation around a possible third term is now very much part of the political discussion in the United States.
Published: May 5, 2026 08:15 am