Trump refuses to rule out third term, calls MRI results 'perfect' en route to Tokyo

When Donald Trump leaned into a microphone aboard Air Force One over the Pacific Ocean on October 27, 2025, and said, "I would love to do it," he wasn’t just talking about a vacation or a golf trip. He was talking about running for president again — in 2028. Despite the 22nd Amendment clearly barring any president from serving more than two terms, Trump didn’t just dodge the question. He danced around it. And then he dropped a bombshell: his recent MRI at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center was "perfect."

"I Would Love to Do It"

At 2:55 p.m. Japan Standard Time, with Tokyo still 7,000 miles away, Trump fielded questions from 17 reporters aboard the presidential jet. Asked directly if he was ruling out a third term, he replied: "Am I not ruling it out? You’ll have to tell me." Then came the line that sent shockwaves through Washington: "I have my best numbers ever. It’s very terrible. I have my best numbers."

That last part — "It’s very terrible" — didn’t come with context. No explanation. No laugh. No follow-up. Just a man who, by his own admission, is enjoying historically high favorability ratings — and seems to find that unsettling. ABC News reported his average approval rating stood at 42.7% as of October 26, according to FiveThirtyEight. That’s not a landslide, but it’s strong for a former president in an election cycle five years out. Strong enough, apparently, to make him consider the unthinkable.

He didn’t mention any polling firm. Didn’t cite a date range. Didn’t clarify whether he meant among Republicans or the general public. But he didn’t need to. The message was clear: Trump believes he’s still the most powerful political figure in America — even without holding office.

Constitutional Roadblock

The 22nd Amendment isn’t a suggestion. It’s a hard stop. Ratified on February 27, 1951, after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four terms, it was meant to prevent the concentration of power in one person for too long. No one has seriously challenged it in court — until now. When pressed on whether he’d consider a legal fight to overturn it, Trump shrugged: "I haven’t really thought about it."

That’s not denial. It’s strategic ambiguity. He knows the courts won’t easily rewrite the Constitution. He knows Congress won’t pass a repeal. But he also knows that just raising the possibility — loudly, repeatedly — reshapes the political landscape. It forces opponents to react. It energizes his base. It turns the 2028 election from a race into a referendum on democracy itself.

And here’s the twist: he didn’t say he’d run. He didn’t say he wouldn’t. He just made it clear he’s not stepping aside. Not yet. Not ever, maybe.

"Perfect" MRI — But Why?

While the term-limit talk dominated headlines, the medical revelation was equally jarring. Trump declared his MRI at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center was "perfect." The facility, with its $1.2 billion annual budget and 5,500 staff, treats generals, cabinet members, and presidents. It’s not a routine check-up spot.

Reporters asked why he got the scan. He didn’t answer. Instead, he pointed to his physician, Dr. Sean Conley, and said, "Nobody has ever given you reports like I gave you." That’s a reference to his December 2024 letter, which claimed he was in "excellent health" — a statement met with skepticism by medical experts who noted the lack of detailed data.

Why now? No one knows. But in a political environment where health rumors have derailed candidates before — think Biden’s 2024 stumble, or Trump’s own 2020 hospitalization — this feels less like reassurance and more like preemptive strike. He’s saying: "I’m fine. And if you doubt it, you’re part of the problem."

Republican Rivals and the Ghost of 2028

Trump didn’t go full candidate mode. He didn’t declare. But he didn’t stay silent either. He acknowledged the Republican National Committee has "very good" potential candidates — naming Ron DeSantis and Tim Scott by implication, according to The Washington Post. He even tossed in a jab at the Democratic National Committee, calling their field "not great."

That’s classic Trump: elevate himself by diminishing others. He doesn’t need to run to win. He just needs to make sure no one else can.

And here’s the quiet truth: if Trump doesn’t run, DeSantis or Scott might still lose. Because Trump is the only Republican who can mobilize 80 million voters. The others? They’re running for second place.

What Happens Next?

Trump’s plane landed in Tokyo on October 28. The next stop: Seoul. Then Manila. He’ll meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. All of them will be watching. Not just for trade deals or security pacts. For signals.

Will he drop a formal announcement? Probably not yet. But will he keep teasing it? Absolutely. Every interview. Every rally. Every tweet. He’s not just playing the long game. He’s rewriting the rules of it.

Meanwhile, legal scholars are already drafting papers. Constitutional experts are preparing briefs. And in quiet corners of Washington, Democratic operatives are wondering: if Trump runs, will they even bother fielding a candidate? Or will they just wait for the next cycle?

Background: The Ghost of FDR

The 22nd Amendment exists because of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He broke the two-term tradition set by George Washington. He won four elections. He led the nation through the Great Depression and World War II. But by 1944, he was visibly frail. The country nearly elected a dying man. After his death in 1945, Congress moved fast. The amendment passed in 1947. Ratified in 1951.

It was meant to be ironclad. Now, it’s being tested by a man who believes he’s above norms — not because he’s above the law, but because he thinks the law doesn’t apply to him in the same way it applies to others.

Trump isn’t the first president to flirt with power. But he’s the first to do it with such unapologetic clarity — and such a devoted following willing to follow him into constitutional uncharted territory.