Trump ‘Not 100% Sure’ He’s Barred from Third Term 

US President Donald Trump arrives on the South Lawn of the White House, Washington, DC, USA, 27 January 2025. (EPA)
US President Donald Trump arrives on the South Lawn of the White House, Washington, DC, USA, 27 January 2025. (EPA)
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Trump ‘Not 100% Sure’ He’s Barred from Third Term 

US President Donald Trump arrives on the South Lawn of the White House, Washington, DC, USA, 27 January 2025. (EPA)
US President Donald Trump arrives on the South Lawn of the White House, Washington, DC, USA, 27 January 2025. (EPA)

US President Donald Trump once again hinted at the idea of serving a third term, saying he was "not 100 percent sure" he was barred from doing so under the Constitution, which forbids it.

Trump has repeatedly alluded to the possibility that he might go beyond the current two-term limit for US presidents -- but while he often strikes a light-hearted tone the remarks remain provocative.

"I've raised a lot of money for the next race that I assume I can't use for myself, but I'm not 100 percent sure, because I don't know... I think I'm not allowed to run again," Trump told an audience of Congressional Republicans in Miami.

To laughter, Trump turned to Republican House Leader Mike Johnson and added: "I'm not sure, am I allowed to run again? Mike? I better not get you involved in that argument."

Trump was inaugurated for his second spell in the White House a week ago, becoming just the second president in US history to serve two non-consecutive terms.

US presidents are limited to two terms in office by the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified in 1951 -- partly as a response to Franklin D. Roosevelt's unprecedented four terms as president from 1933-1945.

A Republican in the US House introduced a super-long-shot resolution last week to change the constitution to allow Trump to get another term.

Trump has alluded to extending his stay on a number of occasions and joked about it as recently Saturday, during a rally in Nevada.

"It will be the greatest honor my life to serve not once, but twice -- or three times or four times," he said with a laugh, before adding to cheers from the audience: "Headlines for the fake news."

In November, in another speech to House Republicans shortly after his election win, Trump said: "I suspect I won't be running again unless you say, 'He's good, we got to figure something else.'"

Trump told an audience of conservative Christians in July: "Christians, get out and vote. Just this time... Four more years, it'll be fixed, it'll be fine, you won't have to vote anymore."



Putin Tells Iranian FM There Was no Justification for US Attack

File photo: Khamenei receives Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tehran, July of last year (Iranian Supreme Leader’s website)
File photo: Khamenei receives Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tehran, July of last year (Iranian Supreme Leader’s website)
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Putin Tells Iranian FM There Was no Justification for US Attack

File photo: Khamenei receives Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tehran, July of last year (Iranian Supreme Leader’s website)
File photo: Khamenei receives Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tehran, July of last year (Iranian Supreme Leader’s website)

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Iran's foreign minister on Monday there was no justification for the US bombing of his country and that Moscow was trying to help the Iranian people. 

Putin hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow two days after US President Donald Trump sent US bomber planes to strike Iran's three main nuclear sites. 

"The absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran has no basis and no justification," Putin told Araghchi in televised comments. 

"For our part, we are making efforts to assist the Iranian people," he added. 

"I am very glad that you are in Moscow today, this will give us the opportunity to discuss all these pressing issues and think together about how we could get out of today's situation." 

Araghchi told Putin that Iran was conducting legitimate self-defense, and thanked Russia for condemning the US actions. He conveyed best wishes to Putin from Iran's supreme leader and president. 

"Russia is today on the right side of history and international law," said Araghchi. 

It was unclear, however, what Russia might do to support Iran, an important ally with which Putin signed a strategic cooperation treaty in January. That agreement did not include a mutual defense clause. 

Before Saturday's US strikes, Moscow had warned that US military intervention could destabilize the entire region and plunge it into the "abyss". 

Asked what Russia was ready to do to help Tehran, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "It all depends on what Iran needs". He said the fact that Moscow had offered to mediate in the crisis was itself a form of support. 

Peskov condemned the US attacks. 

"An increase in the number of participants in this conflict is happening - or rather, has happened. A new spiral of escalation of tension in the region," Peskov told reporters. 

"And, of course, we condemn this and express regret in this regard, deep regret. In addition, of course, it remains to be seen what happened to (Iran's) nuclear facilities, whether there is a radiation hazard." 

Peskov said Trump had not told Putin in detail about the planned strikes in advance. 

"There was no detailed information. The topic of Iran itself was repeatedly discussed by the presidents during their most recent conversations, certain proposals were voiced by Russia, but there was no direct detailed information about this," he said.