Washington: US President Donald Trump joked about seeking a “fourth term” in office during remarks at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, while again claiming he had won the 2020 presidential election, according to media reports.
Speaking to journalists at the annual event on Friday (local time), Trump said he intended to run for a “fourth term” as president, describing the announcement as a “scoop” for the media.
“I won three times, and now I’m going to do it again,” Trump said, repeating his long-standing claim that the 2020 election was stolen through widespread voter fraud. Those allegations have been rejected by US courts, election officials and independent reviews, according to media reports.
Trump is currently serving his second term as US president. The 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1951, states that no person may be elected president more than twice. The amendment was introduced after Franklin D. Roosevelt became the only US president to win four consecutive elections.
According to media reports, Trump has repeatedly suggested in recent years that he could remain in office beyond the constitutional two-term limit, despite the restrictions set out in the Constitution.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner, held in Washington, also saw Trump mix humour with criticism of the media and his political opponents during a speech that lasted for more than an hour.
According to media reports, this year’s dinner was rescheduled after the original event in April was cancelled following a security incident outside the venue. Authorities said a man attempted to breach a security checkpoint and fired a shotgun outside the ballroom before being arrested. The suspect later pleaded not guilty to charges that included attempting to assassinate the president.
