Donald Trump is stepping up his troll game to a whole new level with "Trump 2028" merchandise -- a move that is certain to anger Democrats who accuse Trump of pushing the United States towards authoritarian rule.
Trump has declined to rule out seeking a third presidential term, raising concern among critics who say it would violate the Constitution.
The cheeky product description for the Trump Organization's new "Trump 2028" MAGA hat encourages Trump fans to "rewrite the rules."
"The future looks bright! Rewrite the rules with the Trump 2028 high crown hat. Fully embroidered with a snap closure in the back, this will become your new go-to hat," the description reads.
The 22nd Amendment limits presidents to two terms. The measure was enacted as a guardrail after President Franklin Roosevelt's tyrannical 12-year reign.
In a March interview with NBC News, Trump said he is "not joking" about running again and alluded to "methods" to bypass the two-term limit, but he didn't go into detail.
The president identified one pathway: switching roles with his current vice president J.D. Vance.
The 22nd Amendment reads, in part, "No person shall be elected to the office of the President [emphasis added] more than twice."
Pro-Trump House Republican Andy Ogles (TN) has introduced a measure to lift the two-term limit, but amending the Constitution would be exceedingly difficult in the polarized political climate. Indeed, there doesn't appear to be much demand even among Republican voters for Trump to seek another term.
Meanwhile, Trump appears to be getting a kick out of teasing his critics.
In a new TIME magazine interview published Friday, Trump again pointed to "loopholes" that would allow him to stay in power past 2028, but he said he has no interest in exploiting them... at least for now.
“I’d rather not discuss that now, but as you know, there are some loopholes that have been discussed that are well known,” the president said. “But I don’t believe in loopholes. I don’t believe in using loopholes.”
When asked about the Vance scenario, Trump demurred and started touting his recent physical exam, which described him as being in "excellent" health.
"I don’t know anything about, what, look, all I can say is this, I am being inundated with requests,” Trump said in the interview, published Friday. “I’m doing a good job. Great physical exam, and unlike every other president, I took the cognitive test, and I aced it 100% and I bet you guys couldn’t get 100% on that exam.”
