WASHINGTON – House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday, Oct. 28 he doesn't believe President Donald Trump has any real inclination to attempt to defy the Constitution and run for a third term.

"There is the 22nd Amendment," he told reporters at a news conference. "I think the president knows. And he and I have talked about the constrictions of the Constitution."

The comments follow former West Wing aide Steve Bannon's recent suggestions to the news outlet The Economist that "there is a plan" for Trump to run for the White House again in 2028. The Constitution prevents any president from serving more than two four-year terms, regardless of whether they were consecutive.

Still, Johnson said Trump "has a good time" trolling Democrats, "whose hair is on fire at the very prospect." The president has widely circulated "Trump 2028" hats and memes.

"I don't see a way to amend the Constitution," Johnson said. "But I can tell you that we are not going to take our foot off the gas pedal. We're going to deliver for the American people, and we've got a great run ahead of us left – four strong years."

Zachary Schermele is a congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'I don't see a way to amend the Constitution.' Johnson douses talk of a Trump third term

Reporting by Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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