Trump says that he probably will not run again for Presidency

President Donald Trump says he would like to seek a third term but acknowledged he’s unlikely to do so—his clearest signal yet that he does not intend to challenge or circumvent the Constitution’s two-term limit.

In an interview with CNBC, when asked directly whether he would "run again," Trump responded, “No. Probably not.”

He repeated, “Probably not,” this time with a laugh.

Trump is currently serving his second, non-consecutive term in office, having previously held the presidency from 2017 to 2021. The U.S. Constitution, through the 22nd Amendment, limits presidents to two terms. Changing that would require a constitutional amendment—a steep political climb that would involve gaining the support of two-thirds of both chambers of Congress or convening a constitutional convention backed by two-thirds of state legislatures. Any amendment would then need to be ratified by three-fourths of the states.

Some of Trump’s allies, including former adviser and far-right commentator Steve Bannon, have encouraged him to push for a third term. Trump himself has occasionally floated the idea since returning to the White House in January, sparking speculation.

In his August 5 interview, Trump said he would like to run again, citing strong support: “I’d like to run, I have the best poll numbers I’ve ever had. You know why? Because people love the tariffs,” he said.

Trump has not endorsed a successor and notably declined to back Vice President JD Vance earlier this year. Vance has deflected questions about a 2028 bid, saying he would follow Trump’s lead. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently endorsed Vance on Fox News, saying he would support the vice president in 2028 and encouraged him to run.