New Trump Hat Sparks Firestorm — On Both Sides

Donald Trump at an Arizona rally in 2024. Photo by Gage Skidmore under CC BY-SA 2.0.

President Donald Trump says he's not going for a third term — but the internet, his fanbase, and his critics didn't get the memo. Despite the Constitution blocking him and Trump himself shutting the door on 2028, the rumors keep flying. Between MAGA merch marked "Trump 2028," whispers of legal loopholes, and liberal commentators sounding the alarm, one thing's clear: Trump can stir chaos even while walking things back.

In interviews spanning many outlets including TIME and "Meet the Press," Trump has repeatedly denied that he's planning to run for a third term. He said four years is enough and talked about handing the torch to a new Republican leader. But with the former president's campaign store selling "Trump 2028" hats and some supporters dreaming up ways to keep him in power, it's no wonder pundits are still spinning out theories and warnings like it's 2020 all over again.

Trump Says Four Years Is Enough — This Time, He Means It

In a May 4 interview on NBC's Meet the Press, Trump was asked point-blank whether he was considering a third term. He responded that while people had asked him to keep going, he wasn't interested in doing so. He said, "There are many people willing to wear the 2028 hats, but this is not something I'm looking to do. I'm looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody, ideally, a great Republican," as reported by Breitbart.

Trump also clarified, "It's something that, to the best of my knowledge, you're not allowed to do," acknowledging that the Constitution doesn't allow him to run again — which it doesn't. The 22nd Amendment limits any individual to being elected president only twice. Trump stated that four years is "plenty of time to do something really spectacular," and expressed confidence that the MAGA movement would continue even after he steps down in 2029, as reported by Breitbart.

In a separate interview with TIME Magazine on April 22, Trump had dodged the question but emphasized he didn't believe in exploiting legal loopholes that might allow him to seek a third term. When asked about potential successors, he named Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as standout figures — but said it was too soon to say more.

The Hats Say 2028 — And That's Enough to Fuel the Fire

While Trump says no, his campaign store says maybe. Trump 2028 gear — including hats — has hit the market and quickly become a best-seller among die-hard supporters. When asked about this apparent contradiction, Trump framed the merch as a sign of public enthusiasm, not political intention.

The president has called the demand for a third term flattering but insisted he is not pursuing it. Still, the branding alone has done enough to keep supporters hopeful — and critics on edge.

Legal Loopholes and Constitutional Fantasies

Speculation around a possible third term isn't new, and Trump hasn't always shut it down so firmly. Back in March, he told "Meet the Press," "There are methods which you could do it," – and made it a point to say he was not joking, as reported by NBC News.

Some supporters have floated the idea of Trump running as a vice president and then assuming the presidency if the new president resigns. But election law experts say that doesn't pass legal muster. Notre Dame law professor Derek Muller told the Associated Press that, "no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of president shall be eligible to that of vice-president of the United States," which would disqualify Trump from the role altogether.

Liberal Critics Sound the Alarm — Even After Trump Backs Off

If Trump intended to ease concerns, it didn't work. His recent reassurances have only added fuel to the fire for critics, especially on the left. Legal scholars, columnists, and elected officials are sounding alarms about the erosion of democratic norms and warning that the door might still be cracked open — no matter what Trump says.

In February, Trump shared a meme of himself in a gold crown under the caption "LONG LIVE THE KING," which his critics took far more seriously than his supporters, as reported by The Guardian. The White House even reposted the image, fueling further backlash.

While these gestures might seem like trolling to some, they're viewed as red flags by others — especially those concerned about democratic backsliding.

Congress Isn't on Board — At Least Not Yet

Even some of Trump's Republican allies aren't willing to back a constitutional amendment that would allow for a third term. Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma said he wouldn’t support such a change unless it was backed by voters. Meanwhile, Congressman Andy Ogles of Tennessee introduced a bill in January that would allow a president to serve three non-consecutive terms — a proposal that experts say is politically dead-on-arrival.

Changing the Constitution would require two-thirds approval in both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states — an almost impossible feat in today's divided political climate.

Why This Story Won't Die

Whether Trump runs in 2028 or not — and legally, he can't — the idea is out there. That uncertainty is a rallying cry for his fans and a nightmare scenario for his critics.

Even when he's saying he's done, Trump is still the most talked-about man in American politics. As long as the MAGA movement keeps fantasizing about 2028, and the president keeps smiling at the speculation, the rest of the country will keep holding its breath.

References: Trump Dismisses a Third Term — 'Four Years Is Plenty of Time' | Will Trump Seek a Third Term? The President Settles Ongoing Speculation | Trump Says 'There Are Methods' for Seeking Third Term in White House |Trump says he's considering ways to serve a third term as president | Trump won't rule out seeking a third term in the White House, tells NBC News 'there are methods' for doing so