After toying with the idea of running for a constitutionally prohibited third presidential term for months, President Donald Trump conceded that the law is "pretty clear" against such a scenario.

"I would say that if you read it, it’s pretty clear, I’m not allowed to run," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Oct. 29 as he was traveling overseas. "It’s too bad."

The comments came a day after Trump said he'd "love" to serve beyond 2028, again setting off speculation about his intentions.

Trump has regularly nodded at a third term. He raised the topic at a Black History Month event in February at the White House, where he asked the audience. “Should I run again? You tell me."

The audience cheered and began chanting “four more years.” In a speech to Republican governors that same month, Trump said he's been told he can't run again, but added he's "not sure."

The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” Constitutional law experts agree with Trump's assessment that the language is clear.

Princeton University constitutional law scholar Deborah Pearlstein told USA TODAY in February that the 22nd Amendment bars Trump from running again, "full stop."

The legal limits haven't stopped some Trump allies from pushing the idea of a third term.

Steve Bannon, who served as White House chief strategist during Trump’s first administration and now hosts an influential MAGA podcast, told The Economist on Oct. 23 that "Trump is going to be president in '28, and people just ought to get accommodated with that."

However, one of Trump’s closest allies, House Speaker Mike Johnson, told reporters Oct. 28 that Trump is limited by the Constitution.

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

Johnson played down the idea of Trump running again, saying he "has a good time" trolling Democrats, "whose hair is on fire at the very prospect."

But Trump’s bid to overturn the 2020 election have raised questions about what he would do to stay in office. The efforts culminated in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in an attempt to stop the certification of election results.

Among the ideas floated for a third Trump term is for him to get elected as vice president and then have the president resign. Trump dismissed that scenario this week.

"I wouldn't do that. I think it's too cute," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Oct. 27 as he was traveling overseas. "Yeah, I would rule that out because it's too cute. I think the people wouldn't like that. It's too cute. It's not − it wouldn't be right."

Contributing: Zachary Schermele

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump says it's 'pretty clear' he can't seek a third term

Reporting by Zac Anderson, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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