Can Donald Trump stand for election again in 2028?

Donald Trump has won the race for the White House - marking an incredible comeback for the former president who resurrected his political career after the chaos of the January 6 riots.

The 78-year-old billionaire property tycoon declared he had won a “magnificent victory for the American people” on Wednesday (November 6) after defeating Democrat rival Kamala Harris to become the 47th president of the United States. His victory came after a political comeback marred in controversy - from criminal charges, to accusations of racism and sexism, and the US Capitol riots on January 6, 2021 - sparked when he refused to accept defeat four years ago.

This year, he also survived two failed assassination attempts during his presidential campaign, which further emboldened him in his bid for the White House. As president, he has vowed to pursue an agenda centred on dramatically reshaping the federal government and pursuing retribution against his perceived enemies.

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After being elected, Mr Trump said: “Every single day I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body. I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again.”

Mr Trump became president for the first time on January 20, 2017, after winning the US elections the previous year. His presidency ended after one term in office following his defeat in the 2020 presidential election to former Democratic vice president Joe Biden.

His victory on Wednesday has left many wondering if Mr Trump can go on to become president again for a third time in 2028.

Can Donald Trump be elected US president again in 2028?

Mr Trump will be both the 45th and 47th president of the United States - an unprecedented accomplishment in modern American politics. Only one other president in US history has served nonconsecutive terms, Grover Cleveland.

Cleveland was first elected in 1884 but lost his reelection bid in 1888, only to make a successful return in 1892, becoming both the 22nd and 24th US president. Mr Trump now joins Cleveland in the rare achievement of a nonconsecutive presidential comeback.

But, after securing his second term in office, Mr Trump will NOT be able to run for president again in 2028.

This is down to the U.S. Constitution's 22nd Amendment, which sets limits on presidential terms. The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, states that a president cannot serve more than two terms.

This prevents Mr Trump from seeking the presidency a third time in 2028, even if he wanted to run.

What is the 22nd Amendment?

The 22nd Amendment was introduced in 1947, two years after President Franklin D. Roosevelt died. Roosevelt had served four terms, breaking the traditional two-term precedent set by George Washington, and respected by every president until Roosevelt.

After ratification in 1951, the amendment formally restricted presidents to two terms, a regulation that has since become a fixed part of American electoral law.

Could Donald Trump overturn the 22nd Amendment and run for a third term?

Overturning the 22nd Amendment would be extremely difficult and unlikely, according to Newsweek. It would require passing a new constitutional amendment that would need either a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress or a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures to propose a new amendment. The amendment would then need to be approved by three-fourths of state legislatures or state conventions.

And in an interview with Time magazine in April this year, Mr Trump said he would retire after a second term and would not challenge the 22nd Amendment.

"I wouldn't be in favour of a challenge,” he said. “Not for me. I wouldn't be in favour of it at all. I intend to serve four years and do a great job. And I want to bring our country back. I want to put it back on the right track.”