Trump teases third term with 2028 hat. Just how far can he go?

On Monday, president Donald Trump’s campaign merch site started selling a new red cap stitched with “Trump 2028” across the front.

The hat dropped without warning. It’s the clearest proof yet that Trump, now in his second term as president, is pushing to stay in the White House way past what the law allows. 

According to the product description on the site, it reads: “The future looks bright! Rewrite the rules with the Trump 2029 high crown hat.”

That line raised eyebrows across legal and political circles because it hinted directly at rewriting the 22nd Amendment, the one thing standing between Trump and a third presidential term.

The product page was edited later that day. The new description stripped out the bit about rewriting anything and replaced it with: “Make a statement with this Made in America Trump 2028 hat. Fully embroidered with a snap closure in the back, this will become your new go-to hat.”

Someone in Trump’s camp had clearly realized what that original message implied and dialed it back. But by then, the message was already out—he’s eyeing 2028, and he doesn’t care who’s watching. But perhaps the most alarming part is he might actually get it.

Trump outlines legal paths to keep running the country

The 22nd Amendment is simple: no one gets elected president more than twice. But Trump believes there are ways around it. Last month, in a sit-down with NBC News, he said he wasn’t joking about serving again.

When asked about potential methods, Trump admitted, “That’s one of the methods” and added, “There are many.” He also said, “A lot of people would like me to” run again. That was his response to a question about one possible loophole that’s now being openly discussed.

Here’s how that works: J.D. Vance, the current vice president, could run for president in 2028 with Trump as his running mate. Once they win, J.D. resigns, and Trump steps into the role. That scenario wouldn’t break the 22nd Amendment because Trump wouldn’t be elected president again—he’d be taking over as vice president, which isn’t blocked by the Constitution.

At the same time, a more direct approach is also on the table. On January 23, Rep. Andy Ogles, a Republican from Tennessee, introduced a proposal in the House to literally change the 22nd Amendment. His draft says a president can be elected three times—as long as the elections aren’t in back-to-back terms.

The new rule reads: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times, nor be elected to any additional term after being elected to two consecutive terms.”

So while Trump sells hats, people like Andy are trying to rewrite federal law to make those hats more than just campaign jokes. Whether or not it passes Congress is another story.

Not everyone believes he’s serious though still. Some Republicans say Trump uses the 2028 talk to annoy Democrats, stir up attention, and dominate the headlines, which does make sense considering he is a chronic attention-seeker.

At a campaign rally in Nevada in late January, just days after he took office again, Trump said this to the crowd: “It will be the greatest honor of my life to serve, not once but twice or three times or four times.”

Cryptopolitan Academy: Tired of market swings? Learn how DeFi can help you build steady passive income. Register Now