- By Supratik Das
- Sat, 29 Nov 2025 11:46 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
US President Donald Trump on Friday set off a fresh wave of political debate after sharing an AI-generated image of himself holding a blue placard reading “TRUMP 2028, YES!” on Truth Social. The post, captioned “TRUMPLICANS!”, instantly revived conversations about the constitutional limit on presidential terms and whether Trump was intentionally teasing supporters about a possible third run.
The post appears nearly ten months into Trump’s second non-consecutive term, he returned to the White House in January 2025, at a time when his administration is driving forward stricter immigration policies and new tariff measures under the banner of “America First 2.0.”
Mixed Online Reaction
Within minutes, the post began trending on X, Facebook and Truth Social itself. Supporters hailed it as “classic Trump humour,” while critics accused him of trying to undermine democratic norms. One user wrote, “People won’t be fooled again, the Constitution is the Constitution.” Another supporter posted, “If not him, we still want a Trump in 2028. Keep the movement alive!” Memes also piled up, with edited versions of the placard reading everything from “Trump 3028” to “Make AI Great Again.” Several fact-checkers clarified that the picture was artificially generated, not a real photograph from any public event.
The timing of the image is notable. Republican internal politics are heating up ahead of the 2028 race. Recent polling shows Donald Trump Jr. rising sharply and cutting into Vice President JD Vance’s early lead. This shift has led to speculate whether the Trump family is signalling a plan to keep its political influence intact, even if the elder Trump cannot run again.
What US Constitution Actually Says
Trump’s post has renewed focus on a rule that has never been tested by a non-consecutive two-term president. The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, states that, “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”Trump won the 2016 and 2024 elections. By the end of his current term, he will have completed two elected terms, making him ineligible to seek another.
Despite the provocative image, Trump has repeatedly acknowledged the constitutional restriction in interviews. Last month, he said, “I’m not allowed to run. Too bad.” He has also dismissed any interest in serving as vice president, calling the idea “too cute” for voters to take seriously.
Yet Friday’s post, visually bold and unmistakably styled as campaign imagery, has ensured that the 22nd Amendment will remain a central talking point in the weeks ahead. Thus for now, the AI image has succeeded in what Trump’s social media posts often do ignite debate, stir headlines, and leave the political class guessing about his intentions, even if the law is unambiguous about his eligibility.
