It started with murmurs—barely perceptible but impossible to ignore. A few cryptic quotes here. Some unofficial merchandise there. Then came the statements: confident, calculated, and unmistakably intentional. Something is stirring beneath the surface of American politics. Something that has experts alarmed, supporters thrilled, and constitutional scholars scrambling. Could Donald Trump be gearing up for something that, on paper, should be legally impossible?
As conversations intensify over the future of U.S. leadership, former President Donald Trump—already the dominant figure in the 2024 election—is now at the center of a different kind of speculation. Not about his immediate campaign, but about what might follow after a hypothetical second term. Specifically, the idea of Trump 2028.
Steve Bannon Ignites the Fire
The spark that ignited this controversy came courtesy of Steve Bannon, Trump’s former White House Chief Strategist and longtime ally. Speaking on the podcast Apocalypse Now?, Bannon dropped what many saw as a political bombshell.
“Trump will be in the White House signing executive orders on January 20, 2029,” he declared.
It wasn’t a metaphor. It wasn’t satire. Bannon was serious.
In a follow-up interview with NewsNation, Bannon doubled down. He claimed Trump and his team were actively exploring “many different alternatives” to ensure his presence in the Oval Office well beyond what’s currently allowed under the U.S. Constitution.
“We have many different alternatives to make sure President Trump… is the President of the United States,” Bannon asserted. “And we will roll those out over time.”
That statement sent shockwaves across the political spectrum. What could those “alternatives” be?
The Constitutional Wall: The 22nd Amendment
At the heart of the controversy is the 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951 after Franklin D. Roosevelt broke tradition by winning four consecutive presidential terms. The amendment is crystal clear:
“No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
This legal barrier is the reason most Americans assume a “Trump 2028” scenario is constitutionally dead on arrival. Yet Bannon’s confidence—and the growing chatter among MAGA loyalists—suggests the former president’s inner circle believes there are loopholes, tactics, or constitutional grey zones that could be exploited.
Loopholes or Fantasy? Legal Experts Weigh In
Could Trump really return for a third term? While the 22nd Amendment seems airtight, legal analysts have outlined a few hypothetical workarounds, though each is highly controversial and politically explosive.
1. Trump as Vice President
According to constitutional law professor Danny Karon, one path could involve Trump running as vice president under a trusted ally—someone like Ohio Senator JD Vance, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, or even South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem. If that ally wins and subsequently resigns, is impeached, or otherwise leaves office, Trump could ascend to the presidency through succession.
It’s a legal maneuver that would test the very limits of the 22nd Amendment, which prohibits being elected more than twice—but doesn’t explicitly ban serving again through other means.
However, critics argue this interpretation is against the spirit of the law and would likely face immediate legal challenge—possibly all the way to the Supreme Court.
2. Appointment as Vice President via the 25th Amendment
Another possible strategy would be to appoint Trump after the election as vice president under Section 2 of the 25th Amendment, which allows the president to nominate a new VP, subject to confirmation by both houses of Congress.
Again, this strategy depends on Trump returning to power not via the ballot but via succession—a potentially less controversial legal route, but one that would undoubtedly provoke national outrage and court battles.
3. Amending the Constitution
The most straightforward but least likely method would be a formal attempt to repeal or modify the 22nd Amendment. Such a process would require two-thirds of both the House and Senate, followed by ratification from three-quarters of U.S. states. In today’s hyper-polarized climate, this route is virtually impossible.
Still, the mere fact that some in Trump’s orbit are floating the idea has been enough to inspire unofficial “Trump 2028” merchandise, often featuring cryptic slogans like “Rewrite the Rules.”
Trump Hints at the Idea
Interestingly, Trump himself hasn’t outright dismissed the possibility.
In a 2024 interview with TIME Magazine, he was asked directly about rumors surrounding a potential third term. His answer was characteristically ambiguous:
“There are loopholes that have been discussed. I don’t believe in using loopholes… but you never know what the future holds.”
And in an earlier interview with NBC News, he took it one step further.
“A lot of people want me to do it,” Trump said. “I’m not joking.”
For critics, these statements are chilling. They see them as laying the groundwork for what could be an authoritarian power grab. For supporters, it’s the voice of a leader refusing to back down in the face of adversity.
“Trump 2028” Becomes a Meme—and a Message
The idea of Trump pursuing a third term has quickly jumped from podcast banter to political messaging.
Unofficial “Trump 2028” gear has already begun circulating online. Hoodies, bumper stickers, and hats bearing phrases like “One More Time,” “Third Time’s the Charm,” and “The People Decide” are being purchased not just as satire—but as expressions of hope by a growing segment of Trump’s base.
Political analysts warn that this is more than a meme—it’s a soft power campaign. Floating an idea like this repeatedly, even if it seems implausible, can slowly normalize it in the minds of the public.
“Say it enough times and you plant a seed,” said political historian Dr. Alicia Grenville. “We saw this tactic used with claims about election fraud and it worked to shift public perception. The same could happen here.”
A Challenge to Democratic Norms
If Trump or his allies were to pursue any of these pathways seriously, it would amount to an unprecedented challenge to democratic norms in the U.S.
“This isn’t about legal strategy—it’s about political theater and authoritarian temptation,” said constitutional law scholar Laurence Tribe. “The 22nd Amendment exists for a reason: to prevent a slide into dynastic or perpetual rule.”
But for Trump loyalists, many of whom believe the 2020 election was “stolen” and see 2024 as a “correction,” the idea of a third term isn’t about violating the law—it’s about restoring what they see as rightful leadership.
The Stakes of 2024—and Beyond
With the 2024 election approaching, the Trump campaign is focused on immediate victories. But this renewed talk of 2028 opens a new dimension of the Trump era—one that some argue could reshape the constitutional landscape of the United States.
Already, opponents are mobilizing. Liberal legal groups and watchdog organizations have started preparing legal briefs and opinion pieces warning against attempts to “manipulate” the 22nd Amendment. Congressional Democrats have introduced legislation aimed at fortifying term limit rules to prevent backdoor strategies.
And yet, Trump’s approval among Republicans remains sky-high. A June 2025 Gallup poll showed 78% of registered Republicans would support Trump under any scenario—even if it meant bending some rules.
Final Thoughts: A Political Experiment in Real Time
Whether the idea of “Trump 2028” is a real plan, an exercise in political branding, or a psychological operation meant to keep the opposition off-balance, one thing is certain: it’s working.
People are talking. Debating. Fighting. Thinking about the unthinkable. And as history has shown time and again, when a controversial idea enters mainstream discourse, it rarely fades away quietly.
For now, Trump insists he’s focused on winning in 2024. But if Steve Bannon’s statements are any indication, the movement is already preparing for what comes after.
And with America’s political future more polarized than ever, the question may no longer be whether Trump wants a third term—but how far he’s willing to go to make it happen.
Adrian Hawthorne is a celebrated author and dedicated archivist who finds inspiration in the hidden stories of the past. Educated at Oxford, he now works at the National Archives, where preserving history fuels his evocative writing. Balancing archival precision with creative storytelling, Adrian founded the Hawthorne Institute of Literary Arts to mentor emerging writers and honor the timeless art of narrative.