House Speaker: Trump Re-election 'Impossible...Constitutionally Infeasible'

House Speaker Johnson cited the 22nd Amendment as a specific basis, emphasizing that President Trump's attempt to seek a third term is impossible. He added, "There appears to be no way to amend the Constitution. It would take about 10 years to amend the Constitution." The 22nd Amendment explicitly states that 'no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice,' meaning that President Trump would need to amend the Constitution to run for a third term. However, constitutional amendments are a very difficult process, and instances of amending the Constitution are extremely rare in American political history. Speaker Johnson emphasized the difficulty of amending the Constitution, explaining that a constitutional amendment requires approval from two-thirds of the House and three-quarters of all states. Considering these complicated procedures and high barriers, he believes that President Trump's attempt to seek a third term is practically impossible. Speaker Johnson's remarks may be somewhat disappointing news for President Trump's supporters, but they are seen as a reaffirmation of the principle of upholding constitutional order.

Speaker Johnson also revealed that he spoke with President Trump, who is currently on an Asian tour. While the specific contents of the call were not disclosed, it is speculated that they exchanged opinions on President Trump's remarks about seeking a third term. On October 27, 2025, while traveling from Malaysia to Japan on Air Force One, President Trump was asked by reporters about a third-term bid and replied, "I would like to do it," expressing a strong desire for a third term. President Trump's remarks immediately sparked controversy, and voices supporting a third-term bid have grown among his supporters. However, legal and political circles overwhelmingly believe that President Trump's attempt to seek a third term is realistically impossible due to constitutional constraints. Speaker Johnson's statement is interpreted as emphasizing the need to uphold constitutional order in light of this situation. While there is much speculation about the content of the call between Speaker Johnson and President Trump, neither side has disclosed any specific details.

Meanwhile, Steve Bannon, a close aide to President Trump, previously claimed that there was a secret plan for President Trump to remain in office even after 2029. While the specific details of Bannon's claim are unknown, it was seen as a hopeful statement for President Trump's supporters. However, legal circles assess that Bannon's claim is unrealistic. There is virtually no way to circumvent constitutional constraints, and criticism has been raised that any act that disregards the Constitution is a dangerous idea that shakes the foundation of the rule of law. Controversy over the possibility of President Trump seeking a third term is expected to continue for the time being. Speaker Johnson's statement emphasizes the principle of upholding constitutional order, which may be somewhat disappointing news for President Trump's supporters, but it is seen as an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of the rule of law. It remains to be seen what position President Trump will take on a third-term bid in the future.