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President Trump did not rule out seeking a third term, which he took office on Sunday, and told NBC News that he “was not kidding” about the possibility, suggesting there is a “way” to bypass the constitutional limitations of two terms laid out.
Trump said he hopes “many people” will serve in the third term, and that he was “offended” with Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, and that he has vowed to impose tariffs on his global rivals, according to a transcript of an interview provided by the network.
“I want a lot of people to do that,” he told program host Kristen Welker about the potential of a third term. “But for us, my thoughts, we have a long way to go. I’m focusing on the present.”
Attempts to seek a third term fell into a violation of the 22nd Amendment, where “a person must not be elected more than once in the President’s Office.”
On Sunday, after the release of the interview, the White House repeated Trump points, adding that he is focusing on his current term, and that the idea is “too early to think about.”
“Americans overwhelmingly approve and support President Trump and his first American policy,” White House communications director Stephen Chong said in a statement. He added that Trump is focusing on “undoing all the wounds” and “making America great again” that was done by the Biden administration.
Trump often kept quiet about the idea of a third term, especially at rallying and speeches that pleased his supporters, but he has often treated it to a humorous sideline. The interview was the first time Trump had shown he was seriously considering an idea. Already he likened himself to the king, showing his affinity for an authoritarian leader, and constitutional experts and historians demonstrated governance tactics compared to authoritarianism.
Three days after Trump was sworn in for the second time, Tennessee’s Andy Ogres proposed an amendment to the constitution that would allow Trump to qualify for a third term. Such measures are extremely difficult. Constitutional amendments require approval by two-thirds of Parliament and subsequent three-quarters of ratification.
In an interview, Welker pointed out that he had heard him joke about his third term multiple times. Trump has made it clear that he considers it a real possibility.
“No, no, I’m not a joke,” he said. “I’m not kidding.”
Welker asked if Trump had offered the plan, and he said he wasn’t, but added, “There’s a way you can do that.”
Welker suggested one possibility. All you need to do is put Vice President JD Vance at the top of the ticket in 2028 and hand the office to Trump after winning. Trump admitted that it was “one” way that could happen.
“But there are other things,” he said. “There are other ones too.”
Trump refused to say what they were.
Derek T. Muller, a law professor at the University of Notre Dame and an election law scholar, said there are opposition to the provisions of the 22nd amendment. However, he said such a route would be complicated by the 12th Amendment.
Mueller pointed out that the 12th Amendment states that “people who are not constitutionally ineligible to the President’s office are not eligible for the Vice President of the United States.”
Mueller said he is highly doubtful that it would provide a path to Trump’s third term.
“In addition to this complex legal theory, there are so many pieces to be placed so that this is practically feasible,” he said.
In his remarks to Welker, the president levelled the strongest criticism of Putin to date, threatening to impose “secondary tariffs” on Russian oil if the country blocks negotiations in a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine, which will stop fighting.
Comments show growing impatience over negotiations. Trump said a 25-50% tariff on Russian oil could be imposed “at any time” and he was planning to talk to his Russian counterparts this week.
“If Russia and I can’t get a contract in Ukraine to stop the bloodshed, and if I think it’s Russia’s fault, it may not be, but if I think it’s Russia’s fault, I’m going to put secondary tariffs on oil, I’m going to put all the oil coming out of Russia,” Trump said.
Trump has previously collected taxes and secondary tariffs on imports from countries that purchase products from countries targeted by foreign policy. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The comments were notable given the steps Trump took to match Putin despite US support for Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion more than three years ago. Since taking office, Trump has refused to admit that Russia has started the war, falsely declaring Ukrainian President Voldimi Zelensky as a “dictator” rather than Putin, and accusing Zelensky of not wanting peace.
Trump’s remarks also highlighted his growing commitment to using tariffs to force him to bend towards domestic and foreign policy goals. In the same call, he said he would consider Iran’s secondary tariffs if he didn’t sign a contract with the US to not develop nuclear weapons, Welker said.
Trump told Welker that he was “very angry and angry” with Putin after questioning Zelensky’s credibility and discussing the outlook for a new leadership in the country. Trump suggested that such comments could bring negotiations back and that they “don’t go to the right place.”
“The new leadership means you’re not going to make a deal for a long time, right?” Trump said.
Russia and Ukraine agreed to a limited ceasefire, but with Ukraine’s support, it fell short of the complete fighting suspension that Trump administration officials have sought. Limited ceasefire fires remain tenuous as Russia is sought for more concessions and Ukraine has expressed doubt that the ceasefire will be supported.
Regarding negotiations on Iran’s nuclear capabilities, Trump raised a prospect of military action if the economy or other measures were not successful, but officials from both countries said they were “talking” according to NBC’s Welker’s call with president.
“If they don’t make a deal,” Trump said of Iran, “There will be bombings. They will bomb things they have never seen before.”
Earlier this month, Trump wrote to Iran’s top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging direct negotiations with Tehran’s government and suppressing the country’s progressive nuclear program. The letter said Trump preferred diplomacy over military action.
Trump’s hikes of secondary tariffs on oil from Russia and Iran was the latest example of the president’s interest in using the prospects of economic pressure on third-party countries.
Last week, he issued an executive order on Monday to crack down on the country that buys Venezuela oil by imposing tariffs on goods sent to the United States, claiming that Venezuela had sent “intentionally and deceived” criminals and murderers to the United States.
Trump has called for a new taxation threatened “secondary tariffs” on Venezuelan oil buyers. This is a label that reflects “secondary sanctions.”
Some trade and sanctions experts said existing secondary sanctions related to countries such as Russia and Iran are already not fully enforced, questioning whether the US has the capacity to withdraw new tariff-based penalties.
