Trump and his advisors privately discuss the possibility of a "third term"

**December 18 — Per a Wall Street Journal report, former President Donald Trump recently met with prominent attorney Alan Dershowitz at the White House to discuss the possibility of staying in office after the 2028 election and pursuing a third presidential term.** Dershowitz, who advised Trump during his first impeachment, submitted a book draft to Trump titled *Can President Trump Serve a Third Term Under the Constitution*—it explores hypothetical paths to circumvent the U.S. Constitution’s 22nd Amendment, which explicitly limits presidents to two elected terms. Trump expressed interest in reading the draft and asked for Dershowitz’s take on the legality of a third term. In an interview, Dershowitz noted the Constitution is not “entirely clear” on the issue, framing it as more of an “academic and intellectual discussion.” He doubts Trump will actually govern or run for a third term before 2032. One scenario Dershowitz put forward: If the Electoral College fails to secure the 270 votes needed to elect a president, Congress would make the final call—creating a “selection, not election” situation to try to skirt the 22nd Amendment’s limits. This view has been criticized by multiple constitutional scholars; a Hofstra University Law School professor bluntly called it “absurd.” On the prediction market Polymarket, Trump has a 5% chance of being the 2028 Republican presidential nominee, while current Vice President Mike Pence holds 52%.