WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump, in a wide-ranging interview aired May 4 on NBC’s Meet the Press, dismissed the idea of running for a third presidential term, refused to take responsibility for the economy’s downturn, and showed uncertainty about his constitutional obligations regarding immigration enforcement.
The interview, conducted May 2 with host Kristen Welker, marks Trump’s first major media appearance as he passes the 100-day milestone of his second term. Trump used the platform to defend his policy agenda, including steep tariffs and aggressive immigration enforcement, while pushing back on growing criticism over the economy and his adherence to democratic norms.
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Trump Rules Out 2028 Bid, Despite Selling Campaign Hats
Trump made it clear he is “not looking at” a 2028 presidential run, acknowledging constitutional limits that bar a third term.
“I’m not looking at that,” Trump said, even as his campaign store began selling “Trump 2028” hats. “So many people want me to do it. I have never had requests so strong as that. But it’s something that, to the best of my knowledge, you’re not allowed to do.”
The 22nd Amendment of the Constitution prohibits anyone from being elected president more than twice. Still, Trump left the door open to political influence after 2028, saying, “I’ll be an eight-year president; I’ll be a two-term president. I always thought that was very important, to be honest with you.”
Trump Credits Himself Only for “Good Parts” of the Economy
Facing questions about the slowing U.S. economy, Trump distanced himself from the negative indicators while blaming his predecessor, Joe Biden.
“I think the good parts are the Trump economy and the bad parts are the Biden economy,” Trump claimed, as first-quarter GDP data showed a 0.3% annual shrinkage. He insisted that his tariff policies are helping, not hurting, and credited himself for recent stock market gains, despite volatility linked to his own economic decisions.
“Ultimately, I take responsibility for everything,” he said, but added, “I’ve only just been here for a little more than three months.”
Trump Unsure Whether He Must Uphold Constitution
When pressed about upholding the U.S. Constitution, especially in light of controversial deportation actions, Trump expressed uncertainty.
“I don’t know,” Trump said when asked whether he is required to uphold the Constitution. “I have brilliant lawyers that work for me, and they are going to obviously follow what the Supreme Court said.”
The question followed backlash over the wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father of three who was sent to an El Salvador prison without a trial. Trump declined to affirm whether the Fifth Amendment guarantees due process for all people, saying, “It might say that, but then we’d have to have a million or 2 million or 3 million trials.”
Trump Doubles Down on “Fewer Dolls” Argument
Defending his sweeping tariffs on imports, Trump reiterated a now-viral statement that American children, particularly girls, don’t need so many consumer goods.
“I don’t think a beautiful baby girl that’s 11 years old needs to have 30 dolls,” Trump said, using the example to argue for decreased dependency on foreign goods. “They can have three dolls or four dolls.”
Despite acknowledging rising costs, Trump denied that tariffs would cause product shortages or hurt consumers. “Tariffs are going to be great for us because it’s going to make us rich,” he said.
The administration has imposed tariffs totaling 145% on Chinese imports and retained baseline 10% tariffs on goods from other nations.
Trump Says It’s “OK” If U.S. Enters Recession
Amid growing warnings from economists about a potential recession, Trump downplayed the risks and framed current conditions as a “transition period.”
“Everything’s OK,” he said. “No, I think we’re going to have the greatest economic …” he added, though he stopped short of ruling out a downturn.
Trump emphasized that some tariffs might become permanent, explaining, “If somebody thought they were going to come off the table, why would they build in the United States?”
As Trump navigates the early months of his second term, the Meet the Press interview highlighted his continued reliance on populist messaging, his resistance to accepting blame, and his willingness to test constitutional and political boundaries.
