---
title: "Trump says he is not joking about third presidential term"
description: "WASHINGTON, March 30 (Reuters) - Republican President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was not joking about seeking a third presidential term, which is barred by the U.S. Constitution, but that it was too early to think about doing so."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-03-30-trump-says-he-is-not-joking-about-third-presidential-term/"
published: "2025-03-30T20:58:12"
updated: "2025-03-30T20:58:14"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 108
---

# Trump says he is not joking about third presidential term

> WASHINGTON, March 30 (Reuters) - Republican President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was not joking about seeking a third presidential term, which is barred by the U.S. Constitution, but that it was too early to think about doing so.

By Reuters · Published 30 March 2025, 22:58 SAST · Updated 30 March 2025, 22:58 SAST

## Key points
- In a classic case of Trumpian déjà vu, the former president hints at a potential third term—while simultaneously insisting it’s too early to think about it, leaving us all wondering if he’s channeling a constitutional magician or just playing a game of political peekaboo.
- Trump hints at a potential bid for a third presidential term, despite constitutional limits.
- In a recent NBC interview, he insists, "I'm not joking," about his ambitions.
- He acknowledges there are "methods" to pursue a third term but refrains from details.
- The 22nd Amendment restricts U.S. presidents to two four-year terms, consecutive or not.

## Content

Trump, who took office on January 20 for his second, non-consecutive White House term, has made vague allusions to seeking a third one but addressed it directly on Sunday in a telephone interview with NBC News.

"No, I'm not joking. I’m not joking," Trump said, but "it is far too early to think about it."

"There are, there are methods which you could do it, as you know," he said. He declined to elaborate on any specific methods.

U.S. presidents are limited to two four-year terms, consecutive or not, according to the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu;Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Bill Berkrot)