President Donald Trump said Thursday that he believes he has the "right to run again" for president. He made the remark at a campaign rally in Iowa, even as he acknowledged the Constitution appears to forbid it 1. NBC News reported the rally was in Sioux City, in support of Ashley Hinson 2.
Trump first said he was unsure of the law. "I think the law says that I'm not allowed to run again," he told the crowd 1. He then said he had looked closely at the limit 1.
Moments later, he offered a reason to set that limit aside. He said the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden, was taken from him 12.
They cheated us on the second one because we won it three times, so I think I have the right to run again.
What the Constitution says
The 22nd Amendment says: "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice." Trump was elected in 2016 and again in 2024 1. Another win would therefore conflict with the two-term limit 1.
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Newsweek reports there is no evidence that fraud changed the 2020 result 1. Trump has repeatedly claimed he won that election 1.
A pattern of mixed signals
In August, Trump told reporters, "the law is very strong," even though he said he would like to run 1. In July, at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, he wore a red Trump 2028 hat 1. He has also shared Trump 2028 imagery on social media 1.
At other times he has spoken about leaving the White House in January 2029 1. Newsweek notes that the Iowa remarks go further, because they give a specific reason he thinks he should be allowed to run 1.
Why it matters
That matters because the argument rests on a claim courts and election officials did not support. Newsweek reports no evidence of fraud that changed the 2020 outcome 1. Treating a lost election as grounds to ignore a constitutional limit is a new step, not just a joke on a hat.
The politics are also hard for Republicans. Newsweek reports Trump's approval hit record lows of 32 percent among U.S. adults in a CNN/SSRS poll. It was 36 percent among likely voters in a New York Times/Siena University poll 1.
Neither report cited a Democratic response to the remarks, and the sources do not say what Trump might do next 12. Changing the 22nd Amendment would take a formal amendment process. As written, the text bars a third election 1.
The Record
- Trump wore a red "Trump 2028" hat at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner (July, exact date not given) 1.
- Trump told reporters "the law is very strong" on a third term (August, exact date not given) 1.
- At an Iowa rally, Trump said he has the "right to run again" because "they cheated" 12.
Sources
- Newsweek, “Trump Says He Has 'Right' to Run for Third Term: 'They Cheated Us'” (2026-10-23). newsweek.com/trump-wants-to-run-for-third-term-12608607
- NBC News, “Election 2026 live updates: Trump rallies in Iowa for Ashley Hinson, other GOP midterm candidates” (2026-10-22). nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/live-blog/trump-ra
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