It sounds like political fan fiction — Donald Trump versus Barack Obama in a presidential race.
A new Daily Mail/J.L. Partners poll asked Americans how they’d vote if that 2028 matchup were possible.
Of course, the 22nd Amendment makes it impossible — both men have already served two terms. Still, Trump has repeatedly hinted at a third run, fueling speculation.
Asked in April how he’d feel about facing Obama, Trump said enthusiastically, “I’d love that… that would be a good one.” He later added, “People ask me to run for a third term. They say there’s a way you can do it… I haven’t looked into it.”
Trump made similar comments earlier this year, saying, “A lot of people want me to do it… there are methods through which you could.”
Despite the legal limits, pollsters tested the fantasy matchup:
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52% said they’d vote for Obama
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41% for Trump
By demographics:
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73% of Hispanic voters backed Obama
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68% of Black voters did as well
Obama was the only recent Democrat to beat Trump in such hypotheticals — Clinton and Harris both trailed him.
Obama won in 2008 and 2012; Trump followed in 2016, lost in 2020, and returned in 2024, defining U.S. politics for nearly 20 years.
Could they ever really face off? Highly unlikely — changing the Constitution would require two-thirds of Congress and 38 states. But as Trump said with a grin: “I’m not joking… there are methods.”