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Fact Check: Did Trump say Obama can't run for a third term, but he can?

A viral post claimed Donald Trump said Barack Obama could not seek a third term while he could, sparking widespread debate online

BY SAURAV SURESH

PUBLISHED JUL 26, 2026

A viral social media post claimed Donald Trump said Barack Obama could not run for a third term while he could (AP Photo)

WASHINGTON, DC: A viral social media claim alleging that President Donald Trump said former President Barack Obama cannot run for a third term while he can has been circulating widely online following the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

The claim has drawn millions of views across social media platforms, with some users believing the alleged remark was genuine while others questioned its authenticity, prompting calls for a fact check.

Claim: Donald Trump said Barack Obama can't run for a third term, but he can

The claim amassed millions of views as users debated whether the alleged remark was genuine (@HalfwayPost/X)

The claim surfaced on X, with a post stating that Donald Trump says former President Barack Obama doesn't get to run for a third term, only he does.

Another post amplified the claim, stating, "In an interview this morning, Donald Trump was asked if his announcement that he intends to run for a third term means Barack Obama can run a third time too, and he got silent and frowned for several seconds, folded his arms across his chest, and said, 'No.'"

The claim has garnered millions of views, with many interpreting the alleged remark to be authentic, while others dismissed it as an exaggeration.

Fact Check: The viral claim originated from a satire account

FILE - President Barack Obama makes a face as they show his video during his speech at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, April 30, 2011. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File) — Barack Obama appeared during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington on April 30, 2011 (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

Although Trump did joke about running for a fourth term, the claim that he said he's allowed to run for a third time while Obama is not, is false.

There are no records of the president mentioning the former Democratic president during the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

If Trump had really made the remark, prominent news outlets would have widely reported it. However, a Google search for the claim yielded no relevant reports.

Additionally, the X account that made the claim identifies itself as a satire account, indicating the post was intended as parody for engagement.

Donald Trump jokes about running for a fourth White House term

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 24: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the re-scheduled White House Correspondents Dinner in the Presidential Ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria on July 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. The annual gala hosted by the White House Correspondents Association was re-scheduled to tonight after the original event in April was cut short when an armed man, later identified as Cole Tomas Allen, attempted to get past a Secret Service checkpoint. (Photo by Eric Lee/Getty Images) — Donald Trump spoke at the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on July 24, 2026 (Eric Lee/Getty Images)

"I'm pleased to announce my intention to, and this is somewhat of a scoop, my intention to run for a fourth term as president of the United States. I will be doing that," Trump told the audience at the dinner before adding, "It should be easy. I'm getting very good at running for president."

The POTUS then repeated his claim about his election victories, saying, "Now I won three times. Did very well the second time, by the way. It's a rigged election, but we'll have to talk about it."

Joking about a third term, he said, "Just like my presidency, the second time is always better. And the third time will be better yet," before adding, "I'm only kidding."