WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former White House strategist Steve Bannon has ignited a fresh wave of controversy after claiming in an interview with The Economist that Donald Trump will serve a third term — despite U.S. law clearly limiting presidents to two.
Speaking with Economist editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes, Bannon said:
“Trump is a vehicle — I know this will drive you guys crazy — but he’s a vehicle of divine providence. He’s an instrument. He’s very imperfect, not particularly religious, but he’s an instrument of divine will. We need him for at least one more term, and he’ll get that in ’28.”
The remark — seemingly made in earnest — has drawn intense criticism and renewed discussions about constitutional limits on presidential terms.
What the Law Says
Under the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1951, no person can be elected president more than twice. The amendment was enacted after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four-term presidency, ensuring a strict two-term limit.
Legal experts immediately underscored that there is no legal pathway for Trump, or any other former president, to serve a third elected term unless the Constitution is amended — a process requiring approval by two-thirds of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of U.S. states.
“Bannon’s claim has no legal standing,” said constitutional law professor Linda McCarthy of Georgetown University. “Even if Trump were re-elected in 2028 after serving again in 2025–2029, that would still count as his second term. A third would be explicitly unconstitutional.”
Political Context
Bannon’s comments align with his long-standing framing of Trump as a populist, almost spiritual leader in America’s conservative movement. He has repeatedly described Trump’s presidency as part of a “divine mission,” language that resonates deeply with parts of Trump’s base but alarms mainstream political analysts.
Trump himself has occasionally joked about “serving more than two terms,” including during campaign rallies, though he has not formally proposed any effort to challenge the constitutional limit.
Reactions
Democrats condemned Bannon’s remarks as “anti-democratic rhetoric”, while several Republicans distanced themselves, calling the comments “hyperbole.” Others, however, saw it as a rallying message to keep Trump’s political movement alive beyond legal constraints.
Despite Bannon’s assertion, the U.S. legal framework leaves no room for a third Trump term — unless the nation were to amend one of its most fundamental constitutional guardrails.
