U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked controversy by suggesting his term in office would end in eight or nine years. While the remark drew laughter and applause as a seeming joke during his speech, some observers say it may carry a pointed message, noting this is not the first time he has made such comments.
Trump attended a small business event at the White House on Tuesday, where he referenced institutional benefits provided to small business owners over a 10-year period.
"When I finish my term eight or nine years from now, I'll be able to use it too," Trump said. His current term ends in January 2029.
Trump has been posting images on social media hinting at a possible 2028 presidential run, and some of his close aides have floated the possibility of a third term through a constitutional amendment. The U.S. Constitution prohibits any person from being elected to the presidency more than twice, meaning a third term for Trump, who is already serving his second term, is impossible unless the Constitution is amended.
In the same speech, Trump expressed concerns about a prolonged war with Iran and made an inaccurate claim that the Korean War lasted seven years. "We're at war, and it's been about six weeks. People ask why it's taking so long. It took 19 years in Vietnam, 10 or 12 years in Iraq, seven years in Korea. I won't even mention World War II," he said.
Trump on Red Alert Over Approval Ratings
Meanwhile, a recent poll showed that 62% of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of his job, the highest disapproval rating during his time in office.
The Washington Post reported on Monday that a survey conducted jointly with ABC News and polling firm Ipsos from the 24th to the 28th of last month, covering 2,560 American adults with a margin of error of ±2.0 percentage points, found Trump's approval rating at 37%.
Trump's approval rating was similar to the 39% recorded in February, but the 62% disapproval rate was the highest across both his first and second terms.
In the survey, two-thirds of respondents said the United States is headed in the wrong direction. More than 90% of Democratic supporters and about 80% of independents shared this view. Within the Republican Party, 87% of the MAGA camp said the country was on the right track, while only 49% of non-MAGA Republicans agreed.
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