Trump jokes he'll run for office for 4th term, says he won 'three' times already

While Trump is currently serving his second term as the President of the US, he has repeatedly claimed in the past that he would have succeeded in his reelection bid in 2020 had his victory not been stolen through what he describes as massive voter fraud.

In Short

• Trump made the remarks at the White House Correspondents' Dinner
• The gala came months after the original event was disrupted by a shooting
• Trump took aim at the press with humour and barbs at the journalists' gala

US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) joked about pursuing another term in office, while attending the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington. He jested about running for a "fourth" tenure as president, while addressing a ballroom packed with journalists.

While Trump is currently serving his second term as president, he has repeatedly claimed in the past that he would have succeeded in his reelection bid in 2020 had his victory not been stolen through what he describes as massive voter fraud.

Speaking at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, he said, "...tonight, to show just how much I care about the press and uh I want to save your ratings, I'm pleased to announce my intention to — and this is uh somewhat of a scoop — my intention to run for a fourth term as President of the United States."

Trump added, "I will be doing that. I will be having an official—in fact, I think I have... yeah. I won—I won three times, and now I'm going to do it again."

The 22nd Amendment of the US Constitution states that no individual shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.

Despite the constitutional two-term limit, Trump has repeatedly suggested that he could remain in office beyond that. The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, clearly mandates that "no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice."

The provision was adopted following Franklin D Roosevelt's unprecedented four consecutive terms in office, making him the only US president to have served more than two elected terms.

TRUMP TARGETS PRESS WITH HUMOUR, BARBS

Friday's White House Correspondents' Dinner witnessed Trump taking aim at the press with humour and barbs.

The event was restarted anew after a shooting disrupted the original event in April. Trump, whose administration has often been at odds with the press, started by mostly going along with the warm and relaxed tenor of the evening.

But much of the speech, which ran over an hour, veered into broadsides at his political adversaries, echoing oft-repeated themes and attack lines.

The black-tie gathering of journalists, politicians and administration officials, intended for April 25 at the Washington Hilton hotel, was called off that night after a man tried to force his way through a security checkpoint and fired a shotgun outside the ballroom where Trump and members of his cabinet were taking their seats.

The suspect, Cole Allen, pleaded not guilty in May to charges including attempting to assassinate the president.

- Ends
(With inputs from agencies)