Rally in Iowa

On Thursday, 22 October, Donald Trump told supporters at a rally in Sioux City, Iowa, that he believed he had a right to seek the presidency again in 2028. He acknowledged that the law does not allow him to run again and said he was not entirely certain of his reading of it. The remarks came in the weeks before the midterm elections on 3 November, in which Republicans could lose control of Congress. Trump said he had studied the wording of the 22nd Amendment for years, calling it very concise and leaving little room for manoeuvre. Moments later he argued that he still had the right to run because the 2020 election had been stolen from him, and he claimed to have won it three times.

The 2020 claims

Trump lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden, and he has repeatedly alleged massive fraud since then. Federal courts, state authorities and his own Justice Department confirmed the vote and dismissed the claims for lack of evidence, according to reporting. The dispute culminated on 6 January 2021 in an assault on the Capitol by supporters trying to stop Congress from certifying Biden's victory. Trump also won the 2016 and 2024 elections. In July 2026 he presented declassified documents in a televised speech, which he said revealed vulnerabilities in the voting system and foreign interference. FactCheck.org's review of those documents found no proof of widespread fraud or that votes had been manipulated to change the result.

Vance and the succession question

Hours before the rally, reporters asked whether Trump would back JD Vance if Republicans lose their majorities in the midterms and Vance decides to run in 2028. Trump said he had not thought about it, questioned where the idea had come from, and said there was still a long time before then. He did not confirm his support for his current vice president, which adds to uncertainty within the Republican Party about who might succeed him.

Midterm campaign

Since returning to power, Trump has repeatedly hinted that he could seek a third term, while ruling out the possibility in some of his statements. The Iowa event followed rallies in North Carolina, and he has planned further appearances in Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Texas. The aim of these events is to mobilise Republican voters and support the party's candidates ahead of the 3 November vote. Republicans are seeking to keep their majority in Congress, and the outcome of the midterms will determine whether they retain control of the legislature.