Is Trump eyeing a third term in the White House? Former Trump aide and strategist Steve Bannon shockingly claims he’s “working on it” despite what appears to be clear constitutional barriers.
At a glance:
- Steve Bannon told Chris Cuomo on NewsNation that Donald Trump is looking to pursue a third presidential term in 2028
- When asked if he was interested in running for President himself, Bannon replied “No, we’re working on President Trump’s third term”
- The 22nd Amendment explicitly limits Presidents to serving no more than two terms
- Bannon suggested Trump could run again because his terms are not consecutive, a theory most constitutional experts reject
- Rep. Andy Ogles has proposed amending the Constitution to allow for a third presidential term
Bannon’s Shocking Third-Term Claim
Former White House strategist Steve Bannon sparked optimism among conservatives during a recent interview with Chris Cuomo on NewsNation when he suggested Donald Trump could pursue an unprecedented third term as President. Bannon flatly rejected any notion that he himself might run for the presidency in 2028, instead revealing what appears to be an active strategy for keeping Trump in position for another White House bid.
“No, we’re working on President Trump’s third term,” Bannon told Cuomo when asked about his own presidential ambitions.
The former Chief Strategist said that he would back him in a third run, noting that he had “already endorsed President Trump” and has no interest in mounting his own campaign.
Steve Bannon, who served as White House chief strategist said Tuesday in an interview on NewsNation that he and others are working on ways for President Donald Trump to seek a third term despite constitutional term limits. https://t.co/RExKQKeml6
— NewsNation (@NewsNation) March 19, 2025
Constitutional Hurdles and Legal Reality
Bannon’s claim is shocking because, technically, it challenges the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which explicitly states that “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” Bannon, however, said it could be argued that Trump can still run again because his terms would not be consecutive – but constitutional scholars, for the most part, don’t agree.
That’s why some Republicans have begun exploring potential pathways to make a third Trump term possible, with Tennessee Representative Andy Ogles proposing an amendment to the Constitution that would allow presidents to serve for a third term. However, such an amendment would face steep odds, requiring approval from two-thirds of both houses of Congress and ratification by 38 states.
The former White House chief strategist thinks Trump will seek a third term. The U.S. Constitution limits presidents to two. https://t.co/JFZLkojWmt
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) March 19, 2025
Political Strategy or Constitutional Crisis
A CPAC straw poll conducted earlier this year showed 12% of attendees supported Bannon as the 2028 Republican nominee, though Bannon has firmly rejected this possibility.
Constitutional experts continue to maintain that the 22nd Amendment is clear in its limitation, regardless of whether presidential terms are served consecutively or not. The amendment was ratified in 1951 following Franklin D. Roosevelt’s unprecedented four terms as President, specifically to prevent any future president from serving more than two terms in office.
While Bannon claims to be “working on” securing Trump a third term, the constitutional barriers remain formidable. The upcoming 2024 election will likely determine whether discussions about a potential 2028 Trump candidacy remain relevant or become purely theoretical.
