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By Toby Meyjes
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President Donald Trump said he was offered $250 million to run for a third term during a light-hearted exchange with major Republican donor Miriam Adelson at the White House on Tuesday.
Trump had called on Adelson to address guests gathered for the annual Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony because of her previous donations to his campaign. During her speech, the billionaire said she had discussed the legality of a Trump third term with lawyer Alan Dershowitz, leading to chants of "four more years" from the audience.
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The pair then embraced before Trump returned to the microphone and said: “She said, ‘Think about it, I’ll give you another $250 million,’ prompting laughter from the audience, to which Adelson responded, "I will give."
The White House referred Newsweek to past comments made by Trump about a third term. Newsweek attempted to contact Adelson via the Adelson Clinic.
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Why It Matters
Although the moment appeared playful, it has reignited debate over whether the president would consider running again despite the two-term constitutional limit. The 22nd Amendment, which was added to the U.S. Constitution in 1951, says that “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
The 12th Amendment also states that "no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of president shall be eligible to that of vice president of the United States."
Directly addressing speculation in October, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that the Constitution is "pretty clear," adding: "I’m not allowed to run. It’s too bad...but we have a lot of great people.” He also ruled out the possibility he might try to serve a third term by running for vice president first.
Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon has repeatedly claimed there is a plan to ensure the president remains in the White House after the next election in 2028. But it is not an idea that all Trump 2024 voters have welcomed. According to polling by The Economist/YouGov between November 28 and December 1, 45 percent of Trump voters do not want him to take office again, while 43 percent do. A further 11 percent said they were not sure.
What To Know
During the White House's Hanukkah reception, Trump told the gathered audience that Adelson, a longtime Republican donor and the widow of Sheldon Adelson, had given his campaign "indirectly and directly" $250 million.
Regarding the chances of a Trump third term, Adelson said during her speech: "I met Alan Dershowitz and he said the legal thing about four more years and I said 'Alan, I agree with you' so we can do it, think about it."
Since Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, the Adelsons have played a significant role in supporting Trump and Republican interests.
Adelson gave $100 million to a pro-Trump Preserve America super PAC in the 2024 presidential campaign, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) contribution records reviewed by Newsweek. She also contributed $3,300 to Republican Senator Bernie Moreno’s campaign and $5 million to the Senate Leadership Fund ahead of the 2024 midterms, according to those FEC filings.
Earlier this year, she also donated more than $400,000 to the Republican National Committee, FEC records show.
What People Are Saying
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, in an October interview with The Economist: "He's going to get a third term...So Trump is going to be president in 2028, and people just ought to get accommodated with that."
Costas Panagopoulos, a political science professor at Northeastern University, previously told Newsweek: "The truth is there is some technical ambiguity in the constitutional statutes, and potentially some ways to circumvent the restriction, but the intention, especially when the 22nd and 12th amendments are taken together, is clearer: presidential terms should be limited to two. Even if Trump can find some path to allow him to seek a third term, it will be controversial, and it is unclear that his supporters and the GOP will go for it. And there's a long way to go between now and then, especially given Trump will be in his 80s. By then, few may want him to serve another term."
What Happens Next
Trump has suggested potential Republican successors could include Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The president said in August that Vance would be his "most likely" candidate to serve as "heir apparent to the MAGA movement."
Update 12/17/25, 2:11 p.m. ET: This article was updated with a response from the White House.
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