Donald Trump said “I don’t know” when asked if he needed to uphold the US constitution when it comes to giving immigrants the right of due process as he gave a wide-ranging TV interview broadcast on Sunday.
At the same time the US president also said he saw himself as leaving office at the end of his current term and not seeking a third one – something he has not previously always been consistent on even though a third term is widely seen as unconstitutional.
But when it comes to giving immigrants full rights in US law in the face of Trump’s long-promised campaign of mass deportations, Trump was less clear on the need for due process and following US law and court decisions.
“I don’t know. I’m not, I’m not a lawyer. I don’t know,” Trump replied when asked by Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker whether he agreed with his secretary of state Marco Rubio who had previously expressed support for the idea that everyone had the right to due process.
When pressed Trump continued: “I have to respond by saying, again, I have brilliant lawyers that work for me, and they are going to obviously follow what the supreme court said. What you said is not what I heard the supreme court said. They have a different interpretation,” the US president added.
Trump also gave his clearest indication to date that he plans to leave office at the end of his second term, acknowledging the constitutional constraints preventing him from seeking a third term.
“I’ll be an eight-year president, I’ll be a two-term president. I always thought that was very important,” Trump said. But he acknowledged that some people want him to serve a third term, which is currently prohibited by a constitutional amendment passed in 1947.
“I have never had requests so strong as that,” told the broadcaster. “But it’s something that, to the best of my knowledge, you’re not allowed to do. I don’t know if that’s constitutional that they’re not allowing you to do it or anything else.”
“I’m looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody, ideally a great Republican, a great Republican to carry it forward,” he added.
Trump described the support for a third term as sign of approval, “because they like the job I’m doing, and it’s a compliment. It’s really a great compliment.”
The president’s comments downplaying the idea of a third term come as the Trump Organization began selling Trump 2028-branded red hats. The $50 hats are listed with the description: “The future looks bright! Rewrite the rules with the Trump 2028 high crown hat.”
In January, Tennessee Republican congressman Andy Ogles introduced a resolution in January seeking to amend the Constitution to allow the president to be elected for up to three terms. That was followed by calls to reaffirm the 22nd amendment’s prohibition on a third term.
Trump refused to be drawn on whom he might support as a successor, a position typical to president’s without the option to run again who do not want to be seen as lame ducks as party succession issues begin to bubble up.
Trump praised both vice president JD Vance and Rubio – two names that are consistently mentioned – and was asked if he saw Vance as his successor.
“It could very well be … I don’t want to get involved in that. I think he’s a fantastic, brilliant guy. Marco is great. There’s a lot of them that are great. I also see tremendous unity. But certainly you would say that somebody’s the VP, if that person is outstanding, I guess that person would have an advantage.”
