'You're not allowed to do it': Trump rules out running for third term in White House

Donald Trump ruled out running for a third presidential term, a move widely seen as unconstitutional, in a wide-ranging TV interview yesterday in which he also said he did not know if he needed to uphold constitutional due process on immigration.

- Edward Helmore

The US president said he saw himself leaving office at the end of his current term and not seeking a third one - something he has not been consistent on in the past. "I'll be an eight-year president, I'll be a two-term president," he said. "I always thought that was very important."

He acknowledged that some people wanted him to serve a third term, which is currently prohibited by a constitutional amendment passed in 1947.

"I have never had requests so strong as that," Trump told the broadcaster. "But it's something that, to the best of my knowledge, you're not allowed to do. I don't know if that's constitutional that they're not allowing you to do it, or anything else."

He added: "I'm looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody, ideally a great Republican, a great Republican to carry it forward."

Previously Trump has said he was "not joking" about wanting to serve a third, or even fourth, term as US president.