Former President Donald Trump once again teased the possibility of running for a third term during an address to House Republicans on Monday.

Speaking at the Congressional Institute’s retreat, held at his Trump National Doral Miami golf club in Florida, Trump raised the idea of running again despite the constitutional prohibition on presidents serving more than two terms.

During his remarks, Trump turned to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and asked whether such a move would be allowed.

“I’ve raised a lot of money for the next race that I assume I can’t use for myself, but I’m not 100% sure because…,” Trump said, drawing laughter from the audience. He then added, “I don’t know, I think I’m not allowed to run again.” Turning to Johnson, Trump asked, “Am I allowed to run again, Mike? I better not get you involved in that argument.”

Trump to House Republicans at his Doral club: “I’ve raised a lot of money for the next race that I assume I can’t use for myself, but I’m not 100 percent sure. I think I’m not allowed to run again. I’m not sure.”

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) January 27, 2025 at 5:41 PM

The U.S. Constitution’s 22nd Amendment explicitly limits presidents to serving two terms, whether consecutively or separately.

However, this has not stopped Trump from joking about the idea of bypassing the rule on multiple occasions.

Over the weekend, while speaking in Las Vegas, Trump made a similar comment, saying, “It will be the greatest honor of my life to serve not once, but twice or three times or four times.”

Trump has previously made remarks alluding to running again under hypothetical scenarios, including after his victory in the 2024 election, when he told Republican lawmakers, “I suspect I won’t be running again, unless you do something.”

The notion of a third Trump term has gained traction among some of his most ardent supporters.

Last week, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) introduced a proposed constitutional amendment to allow Trump to seek another term.

The amendment, which faces significant hurdles as it would require ratification by three-fourths of the states, seeks to permit presidents who have already served two terms to run again.

In his statement supporting the proposal, Ogles praised Trump as “the only figure in modern history capable of reversing our nation’s decay and restoring America to greatness.”

He added, “President Trump has shown time and time again that his loyalty lies with the American people and our great nation above all else.”

However, Ogles included a caveat in his proposal: presidents who have already served two consecutive terms would remain ineligible.

This clause would effectively block former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama from running again, while allowing Trump and potentially former President Joe Biden to pursue third terms.

Trump’s remarks have drawn mixed reactions.

While many Republicans dismiss his comments as jokes, critics argue that they may serve as trial balloons to gauge public response to a more serious effort.

Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) warned in November that Trump’s comments are “not jokes” but are “intentionally designed to soften the response and then to normalize his unconstitutional and anti-democratic goals.”

Goldman’s concerns echo sentiments expressed by others who worry that Trump’s frequent teasing of a third term could blur the line between humor and serious intent.

Late-night comedian Seth Meyers took a jab at Republicans in December, comparing their rhetoric to “guys who jokingly propose a three-way with their wife and her best friend. ‘I mean, that’d be so crazy, right? I mean, unless you’re into it….’”

While the likelihood of Ogles’ amendment gaining traction remains slim, Trump’s comments continue to fuel speculation about his political aspirations and keep his loyal base engaged.

Critics, meanwhile, view the rhetoric as a reflection of his broader challenges to democratic norms.

No response from Trump’s team or further comments from Speaker Johnson have been issued regarding the remarks made at Monday’s event.