The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman said she doesn’t believe Donald Trump will actually attempt to run for a third term as president.
But she has warned that his allies may try to find other ways to keep him in power beyond 2028.
Trump “clearly enjoys knowing that it bothers Democrats that he says this,” she said, highlighting a “troll aspect” to Trump’s behavior.
“All of his trolls” start like that, Haberman added, likening the strategy to Trump’s ongoing rhetoric about making Canada the 51st U.S. state. “He socializes them,” and “they take on a life of their own,” she added.
Haberman, though, said she’s skeptical Trump will seriously pursue a third term.
“For a variety of reasons, including the fact that he is going to be 80 next year,” she said. Trump turns 79 on Saturday.
“But do I think that allies might continue to try to find a way to help him stay in power?” she asked. “That’s always possible, and we’ve seen that before.”