President-elect Donald Trump, in a moment with House Republicans on Wednesday, floated the idea of running for a third term. The comment, made ahead of GOP leadership elections, was delivered with a humorous tone that quickly sparked laughter among lawmakers.
“I suspect I won’t be running again, unless you do something,” Trump said, hinting at an unlikely third term. “Unless you say, ‘He’s so good, we have to just figure it out.’”
The remark quickly made waves among Republicans in attendance, with several representatives clarifying afterward that Trump was only joking.
Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett stated, “That was a joke. It was clearly a joke,” adding that he even joked with Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs about the media possibly spinning Trump’s words into a headline suggesting he wants to “thwart the Constitution.” Burchett insisted, however, that nothing could be further from the truth.
Other GOP members also weighed in, including Arizona Rep. Eli Crane, who expressed frustration that political jokes often get taken out of context. “You can’t even tell a joke without being excoriated,” Crane remarked, emphasizing that Trump’s comment was never meant seriously.
Texas Rep. Troy Nehls, proudly wearing a Trump-themed tie, echoed this view, laughing off the idea of a third term. “Are you kidding me? Just stop it,” he said, when asked if he’d support such a proposal.
Trump, like all presidents, is limited by the 22nd Amendment, which restricts any president to two terms. Trump’s opponents had previously warned that his return to the White House could signal “dictatorship-like” tendencies—a claim he brushed off, saying he would only act as a “dictator” for one day to implement strict border policies.
Throughout his political career, Trump has occasionally voiced admiration for leaders who hold long-term power, such as China’s Xi Jinping, whom he once described as “an incredible guy” who is “essentially president for life.”
