A social media post alleging that Donald Trump stated Barack Obama could not seek a third term while he could has gained significant traction online, sparking considerable discussion.
The claim, which has garnered millions of views across various platforms, has divided users, with some accepting it as factual and others questioning its authenticity, leading to calls for verification.
The Claim:
A post on X asserted that Donald Trump said former President Barack Obama is ineligible for a third term, but he himself is. This was further amplified by another post claiming that in a recent interview, Trump responded to a question about Obama’s eligibility for a third term by falling silent, frowning, and stating, "No."
Fact Check:
While Donald Trump did make a humorous remark about running for a fourth term at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the specific claim that he stated he is allowed to run for a third term while Obama is not is inaccurate. There is no record of Trump making such a comment about the former president during the event.
Major news outlets have not reported on Trump making this alleged remark, and a search for the claim yielded no credible news reports. Furthermore, the X account that originated the claim identifies itself as a satire account, indicating the post was intended as parody.
Donald Trump’s Remarks at the Dinner:
At the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Trump jokingly announced his intention to run for a fourth term as president, stating, "I’m pleased to announce my intention to, and this is somewhat of a scoop, my intention to run for a fourth term as president of the United States. I will be doing that." He added, "It should be easy. I’m getting very good at running for president."
He also referenced his past election results, saying, "Now I won three times. Did very well the second time, by the way. It’s a rigged election, but we’ll have to talk about it."
Regarding the possibility of a third term, he quipped, "Just like my presidency, the second time is always better. And the third time will be better yet," before clarifying, "I’m only kidding."