President Donald Trump said Tuesday, Aug. 5, that he would “probably not” run for a third term. However, the president did say that he wants to run.
“I’d like to run,” he told CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “I have the best poll numbers I’ve ever had.”
When host Joe Kernen corrected him and said he had the best poll numbers among Republicans, while other polls showed the president’s approval ratings in the 30s, Trump quipped, “They’re fake polls. You also have me in the 70s.”
Trump touted his 2024 presidential election win, saying his numbers in Texas set a record that will not be beaten unless he runs again.
Constitutional limits
The 22nd Amendment bars anyone from being elected president more than twice.
Trump’s allies and the president have repeatedly floated the idea of him serving a third term despite constitutional limits. According to an analysis from Politico, there are potential ways to get around this rule. They include convincing voters to repeal the 22nd Amendment or running for vice president and then becoming the president again through succession.
Previous statements on a 3rd term
Previously, Trump refused to rule out a third term. He told NBC in March that there were “methods” to become president again if he desired to do so.
“Americans overwhelmingly approve and support President Trump and his America First policies. As the president said, it’s far too early to think about it and he is focused on undoing all the hurt Biden has caused and Making America Great Again,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement in March.
Trump 2028 merchandise is already available through the Trump Store.
Other details of the interview
The telephone interview focused largely on the economy, including potentially raising tariffs against India and a proposed 200% import tax on pharmaceutical supplies from the European Union, as well as a potential replacement for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
Trump also called the latest government jobs numbers “rigged” and pushed back against criticism of the Texas redistricting effort from Democrats, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.
