Steve Bannon Sparks Renewed Buzz Over a Possible Trump Third Term
Speculation about former President Donald Trump pursuing another run in 2028 has resurfaced, fueled by both his own teasing comments and remarks from key allies like Steve Bannon. Despite constitutional limits restricting presidents to two elected terms, some of Trump’s supporters appear eager to challenge or reinterpret those boundaries.
The idea of a 2028 Trump campaign has circulated multiple times, often sparked by the president’s playful remarks during public appearances or interviews. The conversation reignited after Bannon, Trump’s former strategist, claimed there was a “plan” to keep Trump in power beyond the traditional two-term limit.
When questioned about the notion during a flight to Japan, Trump remained deliberately vague. “I’d love to do it. I have the best numbers ever,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One. “Am I ruling it out? You’ll have to tell me. We’ve got a great group of people.” While he dismissed the idea of running as a vice-presidential candidate to later assume office, Trump praised Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as potential successors.
At 82 in 2028, Trump would face constitutional hurdles under the 22nd Amendment, which restricts presidents to two terms. Nonetheless, he has alluded to the idea of serving a third time on several occasions since returning to office, often in a half-joking manner that blurs the line between humor and serious ambition.
Many political observers see the recurring talk as a deliberate tactic to energize supporters and irritate opponents. “It’s just trolling,” one Republican strategist said, suggesting the chatter is designed to dominate media attention and keep Trump at the center of the conversation.
Trump Discloses MRI and Cognitive Test During Recent Physical
During his remarks on the same flight, President Trump confirmed that he underwent both an MRI and a cognitive exam as part of a follow-up physical at Walter Reed earlier this year. While he did not specify why the MRI was performed, Trump insisted that the results were “perfect.”
“I got an MRI—it was perfect,” he said, adding that his doctors provided “some of the best reports they’ve ever seen” for someone his age. Trump emphasized that if the results had been negative, he would have been transparent about it, saying, “I wouldn’t run; I’d do something else.”
The president also mentioned taking a cognitive assessment and used the opportunity to challenge Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Jasmine Crockett and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to do the same. He described the test as an aptitude measure, noting that while early questions were simple—identifying animals like a tiger or an elephant—the later ones were much more difficult. “When you get up to about ten or twenty questions, they couldn’t come close to answering them,” he said.