TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – US President Donald Trump has repeatedly referenced the number 22 in public remarks and speeches in recent months, with no clear explanation for the pattern, according to NBC News reporting on Sunday.
The US president, who is both the 45th and 47th president, has mentioned the number in a wide range of contexts, including claims about Washington DC infrastructure, military operations, and historical timelines, prompting questions from observers about whether the figure reflects a rhetorical habit or a personal fixation.
In several speeches, Trump has cited “22 years” in relation to military planning and operations. In January, he told supporters in Iowa that “people have been waiting for 22 years” regarding a US strike in Iran, while in another March remark he referred to “22 mine droppers” being eliminated in a military operation.
He has also referenced the number in unrelated contexts, including describing Washington DC as having 22 fountains, stating he had met 22 medical specialists, and claiming a proposed Asia trip would take 22 hours.
As reported by AlterNet, journalists Monica Alba and Caroline Kenny noted that Trump has made repeated factual inaccuracies involving the number, using it across speeches in ways that do not align with verified figures or timelines.
The reporting highlighted that Trump has also invoked a long-running “22 years” narrative in relation to military planning, including remarks at a Hanukkah reception where he suggested repeated practice operations over two decades before a final strike.
Despite repeated public use of the number, the White House has not provided an explanation for its significance, leaving the pattern unclarified.
The discussion around “22” has also intersected with Trump’s political messaging on presidential term limits. In a separate address in Texas, he suggested the possibility of serving a third term and argued that the 22nd Amendment, which limits US presidents to two terms, should be repealed.
He said at the Port of Corpus Christi that “maybe we do one more term” and claimed that he is “entitled” to another presidency, repeating his disputed assertion regarding the 2020 election.
NBC News also reported that a White House official could not explain why Trump has focused on the number 22 in his remarks.
The pattern has drawn comparisons to past presidential superstitions, though analysts noted that Trump’s repeated use of the number appears more embedded in political messaging and rhetorical framing than personal ritual.
The White House has not issued further clarification regarding the remarks.
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