Trump's Potential Third Term May Impact 2028 GOP Candidates

Donald Trump's recent suggestions that he might seek a third term, despite the constitutional two-term limit for presidents, have stirred uncertainty within the Republican Party and delayed potential 2028 presidential campaigns. The Trump Organization has released 'Trump 2028' merchandise, fueling speculation and concern among GOP hopefuls who fear alienating Trump's MAGA base if they announce candidacies before his intentions are clear. Key party figures, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, believe Trump has no real plans to run again but uses the speculation to keep rivals at bay and dominate political attention. Trump has alluded to possible 'loopholes' for a third term, though he claims not to support exploiting them, and his team has downplayed the seriousness of the third-term talk, calling the merchandise 'just a hat.' Nonetheless, the ambiguity has effectively frozen the ambitions of prominent Republicans like JD Vance, Ron DeSantis, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Josh Hawley. This ongoing uncertainty underscores Trump's strong influence over the party and the 2028 GOP field.