President Donald Trump acknowledged Wednesday, Oct. 29, that the U.S. Constitution prevents him from running for a third term, a reality he called “a shame.” The statement came as he was traveling on Air Force One en route to South Korea after a layover in Japan.
“I’m at my best poll numbers of any president in many years. If you read it, it’s pretty clear: I’m not allowed to run. That’s a shame. But we have a lot of great people,” Trump told reporters.
Why can’t you apply?
U.S. President Donald Trump said aboard Air Force One that his administration is doing very well, but that he is under the impression that, under the Constitution, he may not be able to run for a third term. Despite this, he did not completely rule out the… pic.twitter.com/gPhtJtSNae
– NMás (@nmas) October 29, 2025
The reason is the Twenty-second Amendment (22nd Amendment) to the U.S. Constitution, which states that “no person shall be eligible to the office of President more than twice.”
This provision was ratified in 1951 following the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was elected four times.
House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed that he has dealt directly with Trump on constitutional limits and noted that he sees “no path” to change the amendment in time to allow a third term.
“It takes about 10 years to do it,” Johnson explained.
What did Trump say about 2028 and his succession?
Although he admitted to not being able to run, Trump again pointed to his Republican team as “unstoppable” for 2028.
During his remarks, he endorsed a ticket headed by Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as candidates for the next presidential election.
Si en algún momento se formaran un grupo serían imparables. No creo que nadie se presentara contra nosotros
Donald Trump
On the other hand, Trump ruled out the possibility of him running for vice president to circumvent term limits. “They would allow you to do it, but I wouldn’t do it. I don’t think people would accept it. It’s too cute,” he commented on that hypothesis.
The Guardian
What impact does this have for the U.S. Hispanic community?
Buzzy
For U.S. Hispanics, this announcement reinforces the importance of closely following the 2028 electoral landscape, as the Republican leadership could be renewed without Trump as a direct candidate.
If Donald Trump cannot run, the Republican Party will have to define new faces for the race.
The figures mentioned -Vance and Rubio- could become key choices for Hispanic communities: Rubio for his Latino background, and Vance for his conservative profile.
The fact that Trump explicitly acknowledges its legal impossibility reinforces the need to be aware of democratic processes, constitutional limits and how they might affect policy decisions for Hispanic voters.
Trump’s statements on October 29, 2025 not only confirm that he is ineligible to run for a third term, but also mark the beginning of a succession process in his party, with direct implications for the U.S. Hispanic community.
In the midst of these statements, it is clear that the debate over presidential terms, succession and Republican leadership is still alive and well.
