Former White House Chief Strategist and conservative commentator Steve Bannon has declared that Donald J. Trump, the 45th and current 47th President of the United States, will return to power for what he called a “third term” in 2028, arguing that America “needs him to finish what we started.”
Bannon made the controversial statement during an interview in Washington, D.C., with The Economist’s Editor-in-Chief Zanny Minton Beddoes and Deputy Editor Ed Carr, where he confidently claimed that Trump’s political influence and movement will outlast traditional term limits and constitutional barriers.
“He’s going to get a third term, so Trump 28. Trump is going to be president in 28, and people just ought to get accommodated with that,” Bannon said. “So what about the 22nd Amendment? There are many different alternatives. At the appropriate time, we’ll lay out what the plan is — but there’s a plan.”
His remarks immediately drew attention across American political circles, as the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution explicitly restricts presidents from serving more than two elected terms.
Bannon, however, appeared unfazed by legal or constitutional obstacles, suggesting that “the will of the American people” could override those limitations.
“Trump is an instrument of divine will”
The former White House strategist, who helped craft Trump’s populist “Make America Great Again (MAGA)” agenda, described the former president as a “divinely chosen” leader whose political mission remains unfinished.
“Trump is a vehicle — he’s a vehicle of divine providence. He’s an instrument,” Bannon said. “He’s very imperfect, not particularly religious, but he’s an instrument of divine will. We need him for at least one more term, right? And he’ll get that in 28.”
Bannon’s words underscore his long-standing belief that Trump’s presidency represents more than a political movement — portraying it instead as a spiritual or cultural crusade.
Challenged on constitutional limits
During the discussion, Zanny Minton Beddoes challenged Bannon’s interpretation, questioning whether pushing for another Trump presidency would undermine the U.S. Constitution.
“You will be undermining the spirit of that amendment, even if you find some way around it,” Beddoes said.
In response, Bannon insisted that if the people wanted Trump to return to office, such a decision would not violate the Constitution but rather reaffirm it.
“If the American people, with the mechanisms we have, put Trump back in office, are the American people tearing up the Constitution?” he asked rhetorically. “Would that be tearing it up? Would the American people be going against the spirit of the Constitution, ma’am? I think not.”
Bannon argued that popular sovereignty — the will of the voters — supersedes legal interpretations of the 22nd Amendment. “The only way President Trump wins in 2028 and continues to stay in office is by the will of the American people,” he added. “And the will of the American people is what the Constitution embodies.”
Defending Trump against authoritarian claims
The former Breitbart News executive chairman dismissed claims that Trump’s political ambitions amount to authoritarianism or dictatorship.
“Trump is nothing but a series of negotiations to keep this thing rolling forward, where he’s having trade-offs all the time,” Bannon stated. “He’s a dealmaker — not a dictator.”
Bannon maintained that Trump’s leadership style, while confrontational, is rooted in pragmatism and negotiation rather than an intent to consolidate absolute power.
He described Trump’s second term as a “continuation of the fight against the establishment,” asserting that the political elite in Washington remain “terrified of Trump’s return” because of his populist appeal.
Historical context and political implications
The claim of a potential third Trump term has stirred widespread debate among constitutional scholars and political analysts. The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, was introduced after President Franklin D. Roosevelt won four consecutive terms, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. The amendment was designed to prevent any individual from holding the presidency for more than two terms.
While legal experts widely dismiss Bannon’s assertion as unconstitutional, political observers note that his comments serve a strategic purpose — to reinforce the idea that Trump’s influence extends beyond a traditional presidency and remains the dominant force in American right-wing politics.
According to political analyst Robert Goodman, Bannon’s remarks may be part of a broader attempt to shape the narrative ahead of the 2028 U.S. presidential election.
“This is less about legality and more about messaging,” Goodman said. “Bannon wants to remind Trump supporters that the MAGA movement is not ending anytime soon — that even after 2028, Trump’s political ideology will continue to shape Republican politics.”
Bannon’s continued loyalty to Trump
Despite facing his own legal challenges, including a conviction for contempt of Congress and previous fraud allegations related to the “We Build the Wall” campaign, Bannon has remained one of Trump’s most loyal defenders.
He was pardoned by Donald Trump in January 2021 during Trump’s final hours in office, after being charged with defrauding donors in a private border wall fundraising effort.
Since then, Bannon has continued to host his influential “War Room” podcast, where he regularly defends Trump’s policies, amplifies conservative talking points, and attacks perceived adversaries in both political parties.
“We need to finish what we started”
Bannon concluded his remarks by reiterating his commitment to Trump’s long-term political mission.
“We need to finish what we started,” he declared. “Trump’s presidency was only the beginning. The establishment fought him every day, but now we understand the system better, and we’re ready to take it further in 2028.”
While Trump himself has not made any official statement regarding a potential run in 2028, Bannon’s comments highlight the continued intensity of Trump’s political movement — and the deep divide within the American political landscape as the nation looks toward another possible Trump campaign.
Whether or not a “third term” ever materialises, one thing remains certain: Steve Bannon’s unwavering loyalty and the enduring influence of Trumpism continue to define conservative politics in the United States.
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