President Donald Trump once again sidestepped media speculation about a hypothetical third term, offering a characteristically playful yet defiant response when pressed by NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Llamas during a high-profile interview set to air on Super Bowl Sunday.
The exchange came as part of an exclusive sit-down with Llamas, portions of which were previewed Tuesday night on NBC News NOW’s Top Story with Tom Llamas. In the preview clip, Llamas posed a direct question about whether Trump could envision any scenario in which he would still be president on January 21, 2029, a date that would fall beyond the constitutional two-term limit.
Rather than providing a straightforward answer, Trump declined to play along with what he framed as a predictable media narrative. “I don’t know. It would be interesting,” Trump replied, before suggesting that giving Llamas a clear response would be far less “exciting.” He openly acknowledged that he was not going to give “the answer that you’re looking for,” leaning into the moment with humor and deflection.
Trump’s comments fit a familiar pattern. For years, he has alternated between joking about the idea of staying in office beyond two terms, conceding the constitutional limits, and responding coyly when pressed by reporters. The president has even leaned into the trolling aspect, regularly distributing “Trump 2028” merchandise that fuels media outrage and speculation.
The renewed attention comes as one Republican has introduced a constitutional amendment that would allow a third presidential term. That proposal, however, is narrowly crafted and explicitly excludes former President Barack Obama, a detail that has drawn attention but remains separate from any official action by Trump himself.
During the interview preview, Trump quickly shifted the focus away from term-limit hypotheticals and toward what he described as the accomplishments and direction of the country under his leadership. He emphasized that his motivation for being in politics is singular: “Make America great again.”
According to Trump, that goal is not just a slogan but an ongoing reality. He declared that the country is now “greater than ever before,” describing the United States as a “rich nation” benefiting from hundreds of billions of dollars in tariff revenue. Trump said those tariffs are being paid by countries that previously “took advantage of us” and mocked the idea that America was once viewed as weak or foolish on the world stage.
“They thought we were stupid. They thought we were fools. They laughed at us,” Trump said, referring to foreign nations. He contrasted that past perception with what he described as a dramatic shift in global attitudes toward the United States.
Trump claimed that just a year and a half ago, other countries were laughing at America, but insisted that is no longer the case. Now, he said, those same nations respect the United States and respect its leadership. He added that he gets along well with foreign leaders and that respect has replaced ridicule.
While critics seize on Trump’s refusal to shut down speculative questions about a third term, supporters see a president unwilling to be boxed in by media-driven hypotheticals. Instead of indulging what he suggests are gotcha questions, Trump used the moment to underscore his central message: economic strength, national pride, and renewed respect for the United States on the global stage.
As the full interview is set to air on one of the biggest television nights of the year, Trump’s comments are likely to spark further debate. For now, the president appears content to keep the media guessing while redirecting attention to what he argues matters most—America’s resurgence.
