Donald Trump has made comments in the past about serving a third term and although much of what he’s said hasn’t been taken seriously perhaps we should be a little more concerned, especially after his recent conversation with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which seem to have given Trump a lightbulb moment.
While discussing the ongoing fight in Ukraine, Zelenskyy mentioned that there were no elections during wartime. When you think about it it makes sense, after all, who has the time to be going to elections when your country is being hit with missiles daily? What’s more, a shift in leadership during such an unstable time could be disastrous.
However, Zelenskyy’s revelation seemed to give Trump an idea, and it’s not a good one. The U.S. president clarified by asking, “During the war you can’t have elections?” Before going on to joke, “So let me just see, three and a half years from now, if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections. That’s good.”
Trump to Zelenskyy: "During the war you can't have elections? So let me just see — three and a half years from now, if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections. That's good." pic.twitter.com/0PTJyZCdgx
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 18, 2025
The comment was treated as a joke by the people in the room with journalists and even Zelenskyy laughing at the president’s attempt at humor. However, given what we know about the Trump administration and his desire to remain president into a third term, it seems very possible that this wasn’t just a joke.
Trump is desperate to stay in power
We’ve heard both the president and his close allies talk openly about finding ways to circumvent the constitution and have Trump serve a third term. Almost immediately after being sworn in Trump made comments suggesting he was already thinking about it. While it seems unlikely that MAGA could find a legitimate way of allowing Trump to stay past 2028, certain figures, like Steve Bannon, seem almost certain that they will make it happen.
While many will treat Trump implying he could get the U.S. involved in a war to keep himself in power as a joke it’s not too far-fetched to believe he would actually try this. Of course, that would be terrible news for the American people, but yet again, Trump has shown time and time again that he simply doesn’t care for regular U.S. citizens. He lied to the population and made false promises to get voted in, and has since turned his back on many of the people who voted him there for one reason or another.
One concerned individual on X wrote, “His comment isn’t funny it’s a warning.” Whether Trump is seriously considering the idea of war or not, it’s likely this plan wouldn’t actually work anyway, once again, the constitution will foil him as there is nothing in there that gives him the power to pause elections during wartime.
