Pam Bondi, the former Attorney General of Florida and a devoted Trump ally, has raised doubts about Donald Trump’s potential candidacy for a third term in the White House. When asked about Trump’s chances of serving another term after his current presidency concludes on January 20th, 2029, Bondi said, “He is probably going to be finished.” Her comments follow Trump’s recent indication to NBC News on March 30th that he may consider seeking reelection despite the constitutional prohibition on serving more than two terms.
During the interview, Trump insisted he was “not joking” about the prospect of a third term, stating, “I like working.” When pressed on how he might get around the two-term limit, he mentioned, “There are methods which you could do it,” sparking speculation about possible unconventional tactics.
Although Bondi is known for her loyalty to Trump, her views on this issue carry significant weight given her position as a top law enforcement official. She told Fox News Sunday that while she admires Trump and wishes he could serve longer, she believes he will likely “be finished” after his current term due to the constitutional restrictions.
The idea of a president serving more than two terms was outlawed by the 22nd Amendment in 1951, following Franklin D. Roosevelt’s unprecedented service of more than two full presidential terms. Changing the US constitution and revoking the 22nd Amendment would require a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress and ratification by three-quarters of the states, a highly unlikely scenario in the current political climate.
In addition to constitutional reform, speculations have arisen about alternative methods Trump might use to run for a third term. One theory involves Trump running as Vice President with a placeholder Republican candidate, such as JD Vance, with the intention that Vance would step down once elected, allowing Trump to assume the presidency for a third time. However, the 12th Amendment’s eligibility criteria for Vice President could potentially thwart such a plan by barring someone constitutionally ineligible to be President from serving as Vice President, which would include Trump if he has already served two terms.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/06/pam-bondi-trump-third-term
