Trump again claims right to run for third term
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The gist
US President Donald Trump told an Iowa rally he believes he has the right to run again.
The 22nd Amendment limits presidents to two elected terms.
Background
Donald Trump is the US President, elected in 2016 and again in 2024. The 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution bars anyone from being elected president more than twice. Trump has repeatedly hinted he may seek a third term, though at various times he has categorically ruled out the possibility; in October 2025 he told reporters he "would love" to run again, and at a Texas rally in February he said "Maybe we should do one more term," claiming he was "entitled" to it. The remarks came at a campaign rally in Sioux City, Iowa, ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
How it unfolded
- Oct 22, 2026At a campaign rally in Sioux City, Iowa, ahead of the midterms, Trump said he was not 100% sure but believed the law bars him from running again, saying he had studied the wording of the 22nd Amendment.
- Oct 22, 2026Minutes later at the same rally, Trump said he had the "right to run again" because "they cheated" in 2020.
- Oct 23, 2026The remarks were reported by CNN, The Guardian, Newsweek, Euronews and others.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Trump said he believes the law bars him from running again, noting he has studied the 22nd Amendment's wording and that it is "quite concise" with "not a lot of wiggle room."
- Official
- Minutes later at the same rally, Trump said he believes he has the right to run again because "they cheated us" and "rigged" the 2020 election.
Still unverified
Trump's claims of mass voter fraud and a rigged or stolen 2020 election have not been substantiated; sources describe them as false or unproven. Trump himself said he was "not sure by 100%" about the legal bar.