Trump keeps 'joking' about staying in office longer than 8 years

Trump at a rally
(Image credit: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

One style of comedy involves repetition — you say something over and over again until people find it hilarious. President Trump has a running "joke" about staying in office for 12 years, or 16 years, or — given his advanced age — for life. He's just saying it to annoy the media, he says. He's seriously considering the idea only because comedian Bill Maher mentioned it once, he jokes. Really, folks, he's just kidding, he insists.

Aspiring comedian Mike Huckabee wanted in on Trump's "joke" Thursday. (He wasn't on Sean Hannity's Fox News show — maybe he was bumped by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — comedy's a rough business, folks.)

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.