President Donald Trump confirmed during an interview on Sunday that he will be an “eight-year president” and that running for a third term is “not something” he is “looking to do.”
During a Sunday interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Trump told NBC News moderator Kristen Welker, “I’ll be an eight-year president; I’ll be a two-term president. I always thought that was very important.”
Asked if he was “seriously considering” a third term as president, Trump said, “I will say this, so many people want me to do it. I have never had requests so strong as that, but it’s something that, to the best of my knowledge, you’re not allowed to do.”
“I don’t know if that’s constitutional that they’re not allowing you to do it or anything else, but there are many people selling the 2028 hat,” Trump added. “But this is not something I’m looking to do. I’m looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody, ideally a great Republican, to carry it forward. But I think we’re going to have four years, and I think four years is plenty of time to do something really spectacular.”
After claiming that the U.S. Constitution prohibits a president from serving a third term in office, Welker told Trump that some of his political allies have considered legal ways to allow him to run for a third term. “Obviously, the biggest way would be the constitutional amendment,” Welker told Trump. In response, Trump said, “That’s because they like the job I’m doing, and it’s a compliment.”
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During Sunday’s interview, Trump was also asked about a potential successor who could lead the Republican Party following his second term in the White House. In response, Trump told Welker that it was “far too early” to have discussions regarding a successor; however, the president acknowledged that Vice President J.D. Vance is “doing a fantastic job.”
Asked if Vance would be “at the top of the list,” Trump said, “It could very well be.”
“I don’t want to get involved in that. I think he’s a fantastic, brilliant guy. Marco’s great—there’s a lot of them that are great,” Trump added. “I also see tremendous unity. But certainly, you’d say that somebody’s the VP—if that person is outstanding, I guess that person would have the advantage. But I think the other people would all stay in unbelievably high positions. But it could be that he’d be challenged by somebody. We have a lot of good people in this party.”
