The White House has provocatively stated the United States would be "lucky" if President Donald Trump remained in office for a constitutionally-barred third term. This bold declaration follows revelations that Trump discussed the potential for an unprecedented third term with the lawyer and constitutional scholar Alan Dershowitz.
White House Defiance Amid Polling Slump
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson made the contentious remarks to Axios, asserting that "there has never been an Administration that has accomplished as much in less than one year than the Trump Administration." She added, "The American people would be lucky to have President Trump in office for even longer."
This stance comes despite successive polls showing Trump's approval ratings plunging. Public discontent is widespread, fuelled by his administration's economic performance and the lingering controversy over his past links to the disgraced late financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
Dershowitz's Controversial Constitutional Interpretation
The discussion was ignited after Dershowitz, a prominent Trump supporter who defended him during his first impeachment, spoke to the Wall Street Journal. He disclosed informing the president that the constitution's position on a third term was "not clear." This judgement starkly contradicts the consensus of most constitutional experts, who point to the unambiguous language of the 22nd amendment.
Dershowitz presented Trump with a draft copy of his forthcoming book, Could President Trump Constitutionally Serve a Third Term?, during a meeting in the Oval Office on 30 November 2025. He described Trump as finding it "interesting as an intellectual issue" and said the president planned to read it.
However, Dershowitz himself told the Journal, "Do I think he’s going to run for a third term? No, I don’t think he will." His book reportedly outlines theoretical scenarios where a third term could become possible, including a deadlock in the Electoral College leading to selection by the House of Representatives.
Mixed Signals and Political Theatre
The prospect of a third Trump term has been a recurring theme since he returned to the White House for a second time in January 2025. Trump has sent mixed signals, telling journalists in October that the constitution is "pretty clear" he cannot run, while repeatedly stating he would "love" to do so.
Within his circle, opinions are divided. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a key ally, has said he "doesn’t see a path" for another run. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles dismissed the idea, suggesting Trump "knows he can’t run again" but is "having fun" with the concept because it drives critics mad.
Contradicting this, the official Trump store has begun selling "Trump 2028" merchandise to supporters. Furthermore, the debate reached a Hanukkah party at the White House, where billionaire donor Miriam Adelson, after seeing Dershowitz's book draft, exclaimed to Trump, "Think about it." Her comments were met with chants of "four more years" from the crowd.
The episode highlights the ongoing tension between constitutional norms and political ambition, setting the stage for continued debate as Trump's second term progresses.
