Jon Stewart has a theory about Donald Trump, and it’s not exactly subtle. On Monday’s episode of The Daily Show, Stewart claimed Trump is already setting himself up for a 2028 run — even though the Constitution clearly says he can’t serve more than two terms.
It all started when Trump was asked about former adviser Steve Bannon’s claim that there’s a plan for a third term. Trump shrugged it off, saying, “I haven’t really thought about it.”
That line set Stewart off. “He’s doing it!” he yelled. “That’s the tell for whenever he’s asked about something that he is definitely going to do that is dubious legally, ethically, or morally. He says he hasn’t thought about it.”
Stewart wasn’t buying the denial. He pointed out that Trump already has “Trump 2028” merchandise floating around. “We know he’s thought about it because he already has the merch,” Stewart said, flashing an image of the president surrounded by 2028 campaign gear.
Then came the punchline that hit like a gut check. “You don’t move into a house, knock down a wing, and build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom for the next guy,” Stewart said. “Trump’s not a house flipper. He’s in it for the long haul.”
For Stewart, the signs are all there. The merch. The renovations. The not-so-subtle avoidance of a direct answer. It’s classic Trump, he argued — teasing just enough to keep people guessing while staying technically within the rules.
The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution states that no person can be elected president more than twice. But that hasn’t stopped Trump or some of his allies from floating creative interpretations. Stewart mocked that idea, comparing it to someone trying to order a political “combo meal.” “Let’s see,” he joked. “Two terms here … but can I get animal-style?”
Trump has previously brushed off questions about 2028 by saying he’s not focused on it — the same way he once dismissed talk of a 2024 run while he was still in office. Stewart’s point is that when Trump says he hasn’t thought about something, it usually means the opposite.
Stewart’s comments aren’t just about politics; they’re about patterns. In his view, Trump’s behavior fits a familiar playbook — deny, tease, then act. The 2028 merch and extravagant renovations might seem like overkill, but Stewart sees them as preparation for something bigger.
He also made it clear that this isn’t about whether Trump can legally run again — it’s about whether he wants to. “He’s not a man who likes giving up the stage,” Stewart said.
The broader takeaway from Stewart’s segment is that Trump’s post-presidency moves aren’t random. They’re calculated. And for someone who’s built a career out of staying in the spotlight, a “retirement” doesn’t exactly fit the brand.
So while Trump insists he hasn’t thought about another campaign, Stewart’s not buying it — and he’s got the jokes, the merch, and the ballroom to back him up.
In Stewart’s words, “He’s in it for the long haul.” And for anyone who’s been watching American politics the past few years, that might be the most believable part of all.
