Trump publishes AI image with mention of 3rd term, banned in the United States

This Saturday (1st), the Republican posted on his social network Truth Social an image generated by artificial intelligence where he appears with the phrase "Trump 2028 - Make America Great Again", in front of a group of smiling people. The next US presidential elections are in 2028.

Donald Trump held the country's presidency between 2017 and 2021 and was elected again at the end of 2024, to serve the term that ends at the beginning of 2029. The country's Constitution, through the twenty-second amendment, prohibits anyone from being elected president for more than two terms – and, unlike Brazil, it does not matter whether they are consecutive or not.

Trump has been flirting with the idea of a third term in recent months. In October last year, in a conversation with journalists, he said he "would love to do it". Last week, at a dinner with the press, he wore a cap with the phrase "Trump 2028".

"We learned a lot about safety and about the dangers. But, just like in my Presidency, the second time is always better, always better. And the third time will be even better. I'm just kidding," he said during last week's dinner.

Furthermore, at rallies the president has highlighted the presence of posters expressing support for a third term, and the Trump Organization's official website sells caps with the words "Trump 2028".

He said he has not yet reached a decision regarding asking the Supreme Court to declare the Twenty-Second Amendment unconstitutional – this would be the most viable path for Trump to run for a third term, since there is a conservative majority sympathetic to the president on the Court today.

Another possibility raised by supporters is that the Republican would run for Vice President alongside a subservient name at the top of the ballot who would agree to resign on his first day in office, making Trump president again.

The politician himself, however, dismisses the maneuver: "I could do it, but I won't. I think it's very ridiculous. I dismiss the idea because it's ridiculous, and I think people wouldn't like it. It wouldn't be right," he said.

Furthermore, jurists claim that another amendment, the twelfth, vetoes the maneuver: according to the text, "no person constitutionally ineligible for the office of president [Trump's case, who can no longer run] will be eligible for the office of vice president."

A constitutional change, in turn, is practically impossible: in the USA, amendments to the Magna Carta, which dates back to 1787, require the approval of three-quarters of the States through a vote in local legislatures, and the Democratic Party currently controls 19 out of 50 of them – 13 are enough to block any attempt to abolish term limits.

Another issue that impacts calculations about Trump's eventual stay in power is his age. When he leaves the White House in January 2029, when he will be 82 years and 7 months old, the Republican will be the oldest president in US history (Joe Biden left power at 82 years and two months).