President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

During an appearance with FIFA president Gianni Infantino earlier today, President Donald Trump joked to members of the mainstream media that he might have to extend a possible second term so he could still be President when North America hosted the Men’s World Cup in 2026.

The Washington Times reports:

President Trump met with Gianni Infantino, chief of the FIFA soccer-governing body, on Monday to discuss the 2026 men’s World Cup and ways to make women’s soccer “even better and more equitable.”



The men’s tournament in 2026 will be hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.



“We’re going to have to extend my second term,” quipped Mr. Trump, who would be term-limited out in January 2025 if he wins reelection. “Because 2026 — I’m going to have to extend it for a couple years.”

Watch video of Trump’s remarks below:

President Trump to FIFA's Gianni Infantino: "We're going to have to extend my second term, because 2026 — I'm going to have to extend it for a couple of years." pic.twitter.com/sl5XZA2gWD — The Hill (@thehill) September 9, 2019

This isn’t the first time, of course, that Trump has jokingly suggested he’d be open to extending his presidency beyond the two term limit:

In May, Trump retweeted Jerry Falwell Jr. when the Evangelical conservative political figure said that the president should have his term extended because of the special counsel investigation into Russian election interference — a “corrupt failed coup,” to use Falwell’s language.



A month earlier, at an event sponsored by the Wounded Warrior Project, Trump joked about remaining in office for even longer than that.



“This will find a permanent place, at least for six years, in the Oval Office,” he said about a trophy he received from the charity. “I was going to joke … and say at least for 10 or 14 years, but we would cause bedlam if I said that, so we’ll say six.”



And in 2018, he expressed admiration for Chinese President Xi Jingping’s limitless term.



“I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll give that a shot someday,” he said.

Even though there’s no question that he is not at all serious about extending a second term, The Usual Suspects™ were not amused:

I don't think he's ever really joking when he talks about unconstitutionally extending his term. He's, at heart, an autocrat. https://t.co/q8gVOObQas — Clyde Haberman (@ClydeHaberman) September 9, 2019

He's done this like a dozen times. At what point do we understand that this is one of those "I'm just kidding! But seriously…" "jokes"? https://t.co/HzLQkIrzQk — Matt Ortega (@MattOrtega) September 9, 2019

Trump ‘jokes’ about extending his not-gonna-happen second term to 2026… Only that he is not joking…

pic.twitter.com/hWcMhKdbbx — Oskaer (@Osman__13) September 9, 2019

Again today Trump talks about extending his term, stop treating this as a joke! He said it again today! — Christian Miranda (@XtianMiranda) September 9, 2019

Trump “joking” about extending his second term so he can be in office for the 2026 World Cup is no joke folks. He’s serious. — Miroslava Korenha (@MiroKorenha) September 9, 2019

The humor scolds at CNN, naturally, indicated back in June that they don’t think he’s joking when he says things like this – and they don’t find it funny.

Then again, if I got owned by Trump as much as CNN has, I probably wouldn’t find his jokes about sticking around the White House for a few years longer humorous, either.

(Hat tip: Twitchy)

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— Based in North Carolina, Sister Toldjah is a former liberal and a 15+ year veteran of blogging with an emphasis on media bias, social issues, and the culture wars. Read her Red State archives here. Connect with her on Twitter. –