Of those who backed President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, a slightly larger share say they do not want him to pursue a third term than those who say they do, according to a new poll.
Polling from The Economist/YouGov found that 45 percent of Trump voters do not want him to serve another term, compared with 43 percent who would support it. Another 11 percent said they were unsure.
At a White House Christmas party this week, Trump called it “an honor” to serve as president and noted that he still has “a little more than three years left” in his current term. “Three years for Trump is an eternity,” he added.
Why It Matters
Under the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1951, presidents are limited to two terms in office. Despite that, some Republicans, including former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, have signaled interest in the idea of Trump running again in 2028.
The new polling may be damaging for the president’s image, suggesting that even among his own supporters there is limited appetite for extending his time in power beyond the constitutional limit.
What To Know
The survey of 568 Trump voters was conducted between November 28 and December 1.
Thomas Whalen, an associate professor of U.S. politics at Boston University, told Newsweek: “MAGA is not immune to the law of political gravity. It is a spent force at this point, bereft of ideas and urgency. I suspect Trump may want to run again, but he runs into a major roadblock known as the U.S. Constitution. There can be no third terms. Also, eight years of Donald Trump is enough drama for even the most devout MAGA supporter.”
In a broader sample of 1,628 U.S. adults, the same poll found Trump’s overall approval rating under water, with 39 percent approving of his job performance and 58 percent disapproving.
A recent Bullfinch Group poll similarly reported that most Americans would choose Democratic over Republican candidates in upcoming elections, while a majority also disapproved of the president’s performance.
Another Economist/YouGov poll put Trump’s net approval rating at -19 percentage points, the lowest figure since he returned to office in January.
Not all recent surveys have been as bleak for the president. A new I&I/TIPP poll shows his net approval at -3 percentage points, with 44 percent approving and 47 percent disapproving.
That marks an improvement from the previous month, when 41 percent approved and 49 percent disapproved, leaving him with a net rating of -8 percentage points.
What People Are Saying
In a March interview with NBC News, Trump said he had heard repeated calls for him to serve more than two terms: “A lot of people want me to do it. But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, it’s very early in the administration.”
Steve Bannon, Trump’s former adviser, said in an October interview with The Economist: “He’s going to get a third term. … So Trump is going to be president in 2028, and people just ought to get accommodated with that.”
What Happens Next
During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump appeared to shut down speculation that he would run again. “You know, the problem with [Democrats] is they have really bad policy, and I’m not going to say what it is because I don’t want them to change it necessarily, because I want to run against it,” he said, before adding, “It’s not going to be me.”
Trump has previously mentioned Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as possible successors once his time in the White House comes to an end.
