Can Donald Trump run again in 2028?

In an early morning speech in West Palm Beach, Florida, former President Donald Trump declared victory in the 2024 presidential election and told an energized crowd that the United States was on the cusp of a “golden age.”

Speaking to an enthusiastic audience near his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump reflected on the “greatest political movement of all time” and vowed to bring transformative change to the nation.

“This was a movement like no one has ever seen before,” he said, emphasizing his promise to address important national issues, including securing U.S. borders and strengthening the country’s future.

He is expected to be both the 45th and 47th President of the United States, an unprecedented feat in modern American politics, and there are still many questions about what happens next. But could Donald Trump run for president again after this victory?

Can Donald Trump run for president again in 2028?

No. Becoming the 47th President of the United States and securing a second term means Donald Trump cannot run for president again in 2028. The reason for this is the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution, which strictly limits the term of office of the president.

The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, states that a president may not serve more than two terms. These term limits prevent Trump from seeking the presidency a third time in 2028, even if he wanted to run.

What is the 22nd Amendment?

The 22nd Amendment was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1947, just two years after the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt had uniquely served four terms, breaking the traditional two-term precedent set by George Washington and respected by all presidents until Roosevelt.

After ratification in 1951, the amendment formally limited presidents to two terms in office, a rule that has been a fixture of American electoral law ever since.

Presidential comebacks and non-consecutive terms

Only one other president in U.S. history has not served consecutive terms: Grover Cleveland. Cleveland, first elected in 1884, lost re-election in 1888 but made a successful return in 1892, becoming both the 22nd and 24th U.S. Presidents. This result means Trump joins Cleveland in achieving the rare achievement of non-consecutive presidential comebacks.

Could Trump repeal the 22nd Amendment?

At a National Rifle Association (NRA) event in May, Trump reflected on whether he might be considered a “three-term president” if re-elected in 2024.

Repeal of the 22nd Amendment would be an extremely difficult and unlikely process that would require the passage of a new constitutional amendment. This would require either a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress or a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures to propose a new amendment. Even then, the change would need to be approved by three-quarters of state legislatures or state conventions.

Despite his words during the NRA rally in an interview with Time In April of this year, Trump said he would retire after a second term and would not challenge the 22nd Amendment.

“I wouldn’t be up for a challenge. Not for me. I wouldn't be in favor of it at all. I plan to stay in office for four years and do a great job. And I want to bring our country back. I “We want to get it back on the right track,” he said.