Donald Trump joked that he is running for a fourth term as president during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner [1].

The remarks highlight the former president's relationship with the media and the legal boundaries of the U.S. Constitution, which bars a fourth term.

During the event, Trump wore a "Trump 2028" hat and said, "I’m running for a fourth term as President of the United States" [1]. He followed the statement by saying, "I’m not joking" [2]. The comments were delivered as part of a routine intended to mock the press and the political establishment [1].

Trump also referenced his electoral history during the dinner, saying, "I won three times" [3]. These claims come as the event returned to the White House after a disruption. The dinner occurred three months after the first event was cancelled due to a shooting [1].

While some reports described the comments as a bid for a third term [4], the primary video record and other reports confirm the reference was to a fourth term [1]. The event served as a platform for the former president to use satire to address his political standing and his views on the media's portrayal of his career.

Trump used the gathering to maintain his public persona through a mix of humor and defiance, a strategy he has employed throughout his political life to challenge traditional norms.

“"I’m running for a fourth term as President of the United States"”

By joking about a fourth term, Trump is utilizing political satire to signal his continued influence and defiance of constitutional norms. The remarks serve more as a performance for his base and a provocation to the media than a literal policy proposal, given the legal impossibility of a fourth term under the 22nd Amendment.