O’Brien — who has also followed Trump for decades — said the ex-president’s recent musings about serving a third term aren’t just political posturing.

Trump, he said, is driven by “either self-aggrandizement or self-preservation,” and while he might dream about staying in power forever, “I don’t think he’ll actually pursue another term.”

The shift

Trump’s April health report marked a shift from his typical approach to medical disclosures. During his 2016 and 2020 campaigns, health updates were brief and vague, often delivered as glowing one-liners with little detail. But this time around, the release was far more specific — and perhaps strategic.

During the 2024 election cycle, Trump had been under pressure to release a full medical report. He had repeatedly promised to do so, but instead leaned on past letters from his physicians, including Dr. Ronny Jackson, who treated him following the 2023 assassination attempt.