Will Donald Trump run for a third term in the Oval Office? Here's what the US President has to say

US President Donald Trump, who is on a trip to South Korea for the APEC Summit, addressed speculation on Wednesday about a potential third term in the Oval Office. He hinted that he did not intend to change legislation that prevents him from running again.

Speaking to reporters, the 79-year-old said under US law, he cannot run for a third term.

"If you read it, it's pretty clear I'm not allowed to run it's too bad," the US President said en route to South Korea.

When asked about the possibility of a third term, Trump responded earlier this week: "I haven't really thought about it. But I have the best poll numbers that I've ever had."

Constricted by the Constitution

Amid talk of a possible third term for Trump, US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday ruled out the possibility, citing constitutional restrictions.

“I don’t see a path for that,” Johnson said at his daily press conference at the US Capitol. “He [Trump] and I have talked about the constrictions of the Constitution,” Johnson added.

Despite being a Trump loyalist and one of his closest allies in Congress, Johnson added that his loyalty had legal limits.

“The Constitution’s 22nd Amendment does not allow for a third presidential term,” the House Speaker said, adding that changing the amendment would take years.

Johnson dismissed further talk about a third term and made it clear that the Trump administration was focused on delivering on its promises in the current term.

“We’re not going to take our foot off the gas pedal. We’ve got a great run ahead of us — we’re going to have four strong years,” the House Speaker said.

What is the 22nd Amendment?

The 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified on 27 February 1951, limits the number of times an individual can be elected to the office of the President of the United States.

The amendment unequivocally states, “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.”

The 22nd Amendment was proposed and ratified in response to Franklin D Roosevelt's unprecedented election to four terms as president of the United States.