US President Donald Trump has once again spoken about the possibility of running for a third term. He acknowledged that the Constitution prohibits him from participating in the 2028 election, but believes he has the right to another attempt because of what he claims were rigged elections in 2020. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Trump made the statement on October 22 during a campaign rally in Sioux City, Iowa. The president came to support Republican Party candidates ahead of the US midterm congressional elections.
During his speech, Trump admitted that he had carefully studied the legislation prohibiting him from seeking the presidency again.
"I don't know who your next president is going to be. As I understand it, the law doesn't allow me to run again. I studied this wording for a long time. Unfortunately, it is quite clear. There is almost no room for maneuver," Trump said.
However, the American president then found what he considers a basis for participating in the next elections. He again stated that he actually won all three presidential elections — in 2016, 2020 and 2024.
"But there is one difference. In the second election, we were cheated because we won three times. So I think I have the right to run again. They cheated us. They rigged the election," the president said.
Recall that Joe Biden won the 2020 election, receiving 306 electoral votes against Trump's 232. No evidence of large-scale fraud that could have changed the voting results has been presented.
According to the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution, adopted in 1951, no person can be elected president more than twice. The restriction applies regardless of whether the person served two consecutive terms or with a break.
Thus, current legislation does not allow Trump to participate in presidential elections again. His statements about fraud in 2020 do not provide legal grounds for "nullifying" presidential terms.
Earlier, Kursiv wrote that in January 2025, Republican Congressman Andy Ogles proposed amending the US Constitution to allow presidents to be elected three times, but no more than two consecutive terms. Such an amendment would allow Trump to seek a third term.
In April 2025, Trump also allowed for the possibility of a third presidential term and claimed that there are ways to bypass constitutional restrictions.