In the high-stakes theatre of American politics, Donald Trump has always thrived on the edge of the unimaginable. Just one year into his second term, the 79-year-old President has lobbed a rhetorical hand grenade into the heart of the US Constitution.
With a single, characteristically boisterous social media post, Trump has ignited a firestorm of debate over whether he intends to occupy the Oval Office until the late 2020s or perhaps even longer.
On Thursday, 22 January 2026, Trump took to his platform, Truth Social, to ask his followers a question that sent shockwaves through Washington.
Citing ‘record numbers all over the place’, likely a nod to the recent surge in US stocks and his administration’s energy policies, the President asked in all capitals: ‘SHOULD I TRY FOR A FOURTH TERM?’
The comment follows months of speculation after his private company decided to sell red baseball caps emblazoned with the slogan ‘Trump 2028.’
The Constitutional Wall: Bypassing the 22nd Amendment
To any student of American history, the request seems impossible. The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951 in the wake of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four-term presidency, states unequivocally that ‘no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice’.
For Trump to legally stand in the next election, he would need to dismantle the very supreme law of the land, a process requiring a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress and the approval of three-quarters of the states.
However, within the President’s inner circle, there are whispers of a ‘plan’. Former chief strategist Steve Bannon has hinted that methods exist to bypass these limits, though the specifics remain a closely guarded secret.
One controversial theory suggests a ‘Vice Presidential Loophole’, where Trump could run as a running mate to a loyalist like JD Vance. Under this untested scenario, the President could theoretically regain power if the sitting leader were to resign immediately after being sworn in.
While Trump himself has previously dismissed this as ‘too cute’ and potentially unpopular with the public, the theory continues to gain traction among his most ardent supporters.
Strongmen and ‘Blank Slates’: A Global Trend?
Critics argue that Trump’s fascination with extended terms mirrors the strategies of global strongmen he has frequently praised. From Turkey‘s Recep ErdoÄŸan to Russia‘s Vladimir Putin, leaders around the world have successfully reset their constitutional clocks to remain in power for decades.
Putin’s 2020 amendments, for instance, wiped his previous terms from the record, effectively giving him a ‘blank slate’ to rule until 2036.
While constitutional scholars like Jeremy Paul of Northeastern University insist there are ‘no credible legal arguments’ for a third term, the President has shown a remarkable ability to push the boundaries of legal interpretation.
Some experts suggest he could appeal directly to the Supreme Court to interpret term limits out of existence, a strategy that, according to the London School of Economics, succeeds in 83% of global attempts.
As the 2026 midterms approach, the question of Trump’s longevity is no longer a fringe theory. Whether he is simply ‘messing with’ his critics or laying the groundwork for a historic power grab, the ‘Fourth Term’ post has ensured that, for now, the world’s attention remains firmly fixed on the man in the high tower.