Commentary: If Donald Trump can run for a third term, so can Barack Obama

Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune on Oct 30, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, speculation has swirled that he would try for a third term in 2028.

He is not ruling it out, to the terror of his critics. On Monday, in an exchange with reporters during his Asia trip, Trump, referring to the third term idea, said, “I would love to do it. I have my best numbers ever,” Reuters quoted him as saying.

When a reporter asked whether he was not ruling out a third term, Trump replied, “Am I not ruling it out? I mean, you’ll have to tell me.”

His acolytes have been promoting the prospect. Trump craves power and won’t easily relinquish it.

The U.S. Constitution’s 22nd Amendment would appear to prohibit Trump from another presidential term, according to legal scholars. If he does go down the third term road, a bevy of court challenges will take it to the U.S. Supreme Court. Since Trump enjoys a favorable reception from that body, brace for the possibility that it will give him the nod.

Wait. There could be an upside for Trump opponents. It’s a stretch, but maybe, just maybe, a big, ripe plum could drop from the tree. That juicy fruit’s name is Barack Hussein Obama.

If Trump can run for a third term, so can his ultimate nemesis.

Former President Obama could mount a comeback to take Trump out and save our democracy. Would he or wouldn’t he? (Only Michelle knows for sure.)

There is no stronger candidate for the Democratic Party than Obama. A recent poll found that Obama far outstrips Trump in popularity. “The poll found that 42% of Americans said they view Trump favorably, while 57% said they view him unfavorably, leaving the president with a net favorability -15 points,” according to an Oct. 1 report in Newsweek magazine.

Meanwhile, 57% of Americans said they view Obama favorably, while 40% saying they view him unfavorably, for a net favorability of +17 points.

The poll, conducted in September by Marquette University Law School, surveyed 1,005 adults nationwide, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.

Obama’s “personal appeal, inspirational rhetoric, and unanticipated success in the 2008 presidential race continue to have strong public support,” Meena Bose, executive dean of Hofstra University’s Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, told Newsweek.

“The promise of hope and change are defining features of the Obama presidential campaign and still influence assessments of his presidency,” Bose added.

Trump knows just how dangerous Obama is. That’s why Trump has been attacking, demeaning and undermining Obama since he entered national politics.

The biggest political challenge the Democrats face today is not Trump and his scorched-earth assault on democracy, social justice and equity, and all the other things their party cherishes.

Their overarching problem is that there is no leadership at the top. A horde of prominent Democrats aspire to take on Trump, but no one has been able to capture the prevailing imagination and allegiance of the party’s base.

The list of Democratic hopefuls is mind-bogglingly long. Nationally known governors, including JB Pritzker, Gretchen Whitmer, Gavin Newsom, Wes Moore and Josh Shapiro, as well U.S. senators, including Cory Booker, Chris Murphy, Adam Schiff, John Fetterman and more.

Kamala Harris, the Democrats’ 2024 presidential nominee, recently suggested she might consider another run.

However, a contest among these aspirants would be a squabble in a teapot. None have Obama’s experience, charisma and vote-getting ability. He would clobber everyone else in the ring and clear that field.

With the specter of another Trump presidential term, Obama would energize the party’s base. Latino voters will reconsider their past support for Trump, whose administration vows to give every immigrant in the nation a one-way ticket to Palookaville.

Progressives have their problems with Obama, but he would be the only one standing among the Democratic White House hopefuls. All others would fade away in comparison.

Imagine, Obama versus Trump. In 2028, Obama will be sharp at 67. Trump, an 82-year-old dinosaur. That’s a match with betting odds that would favor the Democrats. FanDuel and DraftKings would have a tough time finding Republicans to bet on Trump.

A challenge from Obama would put Trump into an unprecedented tizzy. Obama won a Nobel Peace Prize, something Trump craves but knows he will never get.

Let’s hope Trump won’t be in the ring in 2028, but if he is, there is one powerhouse candidate to take him on. If Trump wants to open the third-term door, bring on Obama.

____

Laura Washington is a political commentator and longtime Chicago journalist.

___