Speaker Mike Johnson pushed back hard on talk that former President Donald Trump could sidestep limits and return in 2028, pointing to the 22nd Amendment and calling any shortcut unrealistic, while also firing a clear shot at Democratic obstruction over the current government shutdown. This article lays out Johnson’s constitutional case, his take after speaking with Trump, the president’s own dismissal of a vice presidential comeback strategy, and how the speaker pins the shutdown on Democratic leaders.
At a Capitol news conference Johnson was blunt about the constitutional barrier, saying, “There is the 22nd Amendment.” He made clear that symbolic campaign shtick like “Trump 2028” is mostly political theater aimed at rattling opponents. The emphasis was steady: the Constitution matters and changing it is not a quick fix.
Johnson walked reporters through the mechanics and blunt reality: “I don’t see a way to amend the Constitution because it takes about ten years,” Johnson said. “You’d need two-thirds of Congress and three-fourths of the states to ratify [it]. I don’t see the path for that.” His point was practical, not partisan—amendment is possible in theory but vanishingly unlikely in practice.
He also framed the chatter as exactly what it looks like: political bait. Johnson said he had spoken with Trump about an hour before the news conference, calling the president’s “2028” talk “trolling” aimed at opponents. He added, “It’s one of the most popular hats ever produced, and it drives the Democrats crazy,” using the language of the political fight with a wink.
The speaker’s comments echoed Trump’s own public shrug earlier in the week when reporters asked about an offbeat workaround. Asked aboard Air Force One en route to Tokyo whether he might attempt a return as vice president in 2028, Trump laughed. “I wouldn’t do that. I think it’s too cute,” he said. “Yeah, I would rule that out because it’s too cute.”
Johnson also put the 22nd Amendment in its historical context, noting it was ratified in 1951 after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s unprecedented four terms. The amendment limits presidents to two elected terms and, by design, makes any reversal a heavy lift. That legal framework is a strong anchor against the kind of political fantasies floated by opponents.
The conversation in the Capitol didn’t stay on abstract constitutional law for long; it moved straight to the practical emergency of a government shutdown closing in on a month. When pressed in the hallways, Johnson said bluntly, “The president tried his best to negotiate with the Democrat leaders. They effectively gave him the middle finger in the Oval Office.” He followed that with, “This is a congressional problem.”
Johnson argued Republicans had already put a clear alternative on the table, pointing to an offered “clean” continuing resolution and saying there was “nothing more for [Trump] to do.” He added, “Talking with [Democrats] and trying to negotiate is a waste of time,” making the case that further concessions would simply reward obstruction rather than produce results for Americans.
He didn’t spare Democratic leadership from criticism, accusing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of clinging to a “long laundry list of crazy partisan spending priorities.” Johnson said reopening the government will require “a few commonsense, centrist, moderate Democrats who care about the American people more than their political games.” That appeal blends pressure with an invitation to govern.
Johnson closed the public portion of his remarks by refocusing on the here and now, stressing his priority is the current term and the next three years of the administration’s agenda. He reiterated that, while anything is formally possible, he sees no realistic path to changing the 22nd Amendment. Whether allies pursue a formal amendment proposal remains uncertain, but the speaker’s assessment left little doubt about its chances.
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