US President Donald Trump reignited speculation about a potential third term during his remarks at the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) Dinner on Friday (local time), joking that a “third time” in office would be even better before quickly clarifying that he was “only kidding.” Comparing the delayed event to his presidency, Trump quipped that “the second time is always better” and added, “the third time will be better yet.”
“I am delighted to be here at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” the US President said. “Just like my presidency, the second time is always better. It’s always better. And the third time will be better yet,” he added.
Trump later clarified that he was just “kidding” about the idea.
“I’m only kidding,” he stated.
Trump:Just like my presidency, the second time is always better.And the third time will be better yet.I am only kidding. pic.twitter.com/fw1R4xLU2h
— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 25, 2026
The 22nd Amendment limits Trump
According to the 22nd Amendment of the US Constitution, no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice. Trump is currently serving his second term in the White House. Despite presidential term limits in the US, Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of staying in office beyond them in recent times.
The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, explicitly states that “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
This limit was established after President Franklin D Roosevelt’s unprecedented four consecutive terms.
The remarks drew attention as Trump made a light-hearted reference to serving a third term, an idea that would require changes to the US Constitution, before immediately indicating that the comment was made in jest.
Later in his speech, Trump joked that next year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner could bear his name, claiming that David Ellison, the chief executive of Paramount Skydance, had suggested the idea.
“Next year, they’re going to call it the Trump White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” Trump said. “(Ellison) told me that, and I like that very much. We’re going to change the name of it, okay?”
The Correspondents’ Dinner was rescheduled after the original April event was abruptly called off following a major security incident at the Washington Hilton.
(With agency inputs)