Former President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is “not joking” about attempting to serve a third term, marking his most direct acknowledgment that he is exploring ways to bypass the constitutional restriction that would prevent him from remaining in office beyond the beginning of 2029.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Former President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is “not joking” about attempting to serve a third term, marking his most direct acknowledgment that he is exploring ways to bypass the constitutional restriction that would prevent him from remaining in office beyond the beginning of 2029.

“There are ways you can make it happen,” Trump said during a phone interview with NBC News from Mar-a-Lago, his private estate.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his flight from Florida to Washington, he elaborated: “Many people have urged me to seek a third term, which would technically be my fourth, given that the 2020 election was completely fraudulent.” Trump was defeated in that election by Democrat Joe Biden.

Still, Trump added, “I’m not discussing a third term right now because, no matter how you frame it, there’s still a long road ahead.”

The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951 after Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected four times, states that “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”

Any effort to extend his presidency would face legal hurdles, and it remains uncertain how serious Trump is about pursuing the idea. Nevertheless, his remarks were a striking reflection of his determination to hold onto power, reminiscent of his previous attempt to challenge democratic norms when he sought to overturn the election he lost to Biden.

“This is another step in his ongoing attempt to take control of the government and weaken our democracy,” said Rep. Daniel Goldman, a New York Democrat who was the lead counsel in Trump’s first impeachment. “If Congressional Republicans value the Constitution, they should publicly denounce Trump’s push for a third term.”

Steve Bannon, a former Trump strategist and host of the right-wing “War Room” podcast, advocated for Trump’s re-election during his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month.

“We want Trump in 2028,” Bannon declared.

Kayla Thompson, a 30-year-old former paralegal from Wisconsin, expressed her strong support for Trump serving another term.

“America needs him. We’re on the right path, and if he doesn’t continue, we risk going backward,” said Thompson, who attended a campaign event with Elon Musk in Green Bay on Sunday for a state Supreme Court race.

Jeremy Paul, a constitutional law professor at Northeastern University in Boston, stated that “there are no valid legal arguments supporting a third term for Trump.”

NBC’s Kristen Welker asked Trump if one possible route to a third term involved having Vice President JD Vance run for the presidency and then stepping aside to hand over power to him.

“Well, that’s one option,” Trump replied. “But there are other ways too. There are other options.”

“Can you share another?” Welker pressed.

“No,” Trump said.

Vance’s office did not immediately provide a response to The Associated Press when asked for comment.

Derek Muller, a professor specializing in election law at Notre Dame, pointed out that the 12th Amendment, ratified in 1804, states that “no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.”

Muller explained that if Trump is barred from running for president again due to the 22nd Amendment, he would also be inreligible to serve as vice president.

“I don’t believe there’s any clever loophole that can circumvent presidential term limits,” Muller said.

Furthermore, attempting to secure a third term would necessitate an unprecedented level of cooperation from federal and state officials, along with court approvals and voter support.

Muller suggested that Trump is likely floating the idea for political reasons, aiming to “project as much strength as possible.”

“A president nearing the end of his term, like Trump, has every reason to avoid appearing like a lame duck,” he added.

When asked whether he would want to continue holding “the most demanding job in the country” by the time his second term concludes, Trump, who would be 82 then, responded,

“Well, I enjoy working,” he said.

Trump suggested that public support would justify a third term, citing his popularity. He falsely claimed to have “the highest poll numbers of any Republican in the last century.”

Historical Gallup data shows President George W. Bush reaching a 90% approval rating following the September 11, 2001, attacks, while his father, President George H.W. Bush, achieved 89% after the Gulf War in 1991.

Trump’s highest recorded approval rating in Gallup data was 47% during his second term, despite his claim of polling “in the high 70s in real polls.”

Trump has previously hinted at extending his presidency, often making such remarks in jest before supportive audiences.

“Am I allowed to run again?” he quipped during a House Republican retreat in January.

Representatives for congressional leaders—House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York—did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’s request for community.

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