Trump quips about third presidential term

U.S. President Donald Trump joked about seeking a third term in office during his remarks at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, telling attendees that each of his presidencies would be better than the last before clarifying that he was not serious.

Speaking at the rescheduled annual event on Friday, Trump quipped: “Just like my presidency, the second time is always better. And the third time is better yet,” before adding, “I’m only kidding.”

Later in his speech, he extended the joke by displaying a red “Trump 2028” baseball cap and pretending to announce another presidential bid.

“I’m pleased to announce my intention to – and this is somewhat of a scoop – run for a fourth term as president of the United States,” he said, drawing laughter from the audience.

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner traditionally features light-hearted exchanges between U.S. presidents and journalists, with presidents often using the occasion to make jokes about themselves and current affairs.

Under the U.S. Constitution’s 22nd Amendment, a president may only be elected to the office twice. Despite this, some Trump supporters have speculated about possible legal pathways that could allow him to return to the presidency, although such interpretations remain widely disputed.

The dinner was originally scheduled for April but was postponed after an armed man allegedly attempted to breach the venue. Security officials said the suspect was stopped before reaching the main hall.

The event also featured a performance by magician Oz Pearlman and a tribute to a Secret Service agent involved in stopping the April incident.

Secret Service Director Sean Curran said the agency’s security measures had worked as intended during the attempted attack but warned that threats against senior U.S. officials remain at an unprecedented level.

“The threat picture and environment is as large as I’ve ever seen it,” Curran said.

Trump’s appearance marked a rare participation in the correspondents’ dinner while serving as president, following years of strained relations with the media during his first administration.