Self-proclaimed "investor" and former Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback announced on social media that he is running for president in 2028. The Constitution, however, disagrees.

Fishback posted to X Wednesday a video of a question he answered at a speaking engagement the previous night. He told the room that his sights are set on the White House. He confirmed his intentions in the post, writing "I’m running for president."

A subsequent post confirmed he plans to campaign in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina following the 2026 midterms, three states that play prominent roles in the presidential nominating process.

If Fishback truly does plan to follow through on a 2028 bid, his campaign will face several major hurdles. The first being that Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution requires the president to be at least 35 years old at the time of inauguration. Fishback, born January 1, 1995, will not turn 35 until 2030 and as such is ineligible for the presidency under the constitutional age requirement. The next presidential term begins January 20, 2029, when Fishback will still be 34 years old. The announcement therefore launches a campaign that couldn't legally result in him taking the oath of office.

In the attached video of Fishback's announcement post, he ends his answer by saying he is "only kidding." Despite this, online supporters and Fishback himself are treating the post as an announcement of a serious bid, even months after a weak primary showing and a clear constitutional barrier.

Fishback notably did not say if he would seek a party nomination for president or if he would pin his hopes for a victory on an independent campaign. Should he pursue the Republican nomination, his odds appear bleak in a likely crowded 2028 field. His record of poor primary performance, finishing third in the Florida gubernatorial primary with just 10 percent of the vote, also leaves a question of how well his message can carry outside his niche of young male voters.

Another issue in a hypothetical national Fishback campaign is his lack of intraparty support. Since his primary loss, Fishback has withheld his endorsement of Rep. Byron Donalds after the Republican gubernatorial nominee resoundingly beat Fishback and other challengers by double-digits. Statements made by Fishback referring to Donalds, a Black Republican, as a "chimp" and a "slave" may be good for online clicks, but they will make a cohesive relationship with party leadership quite difficult. Similarly, Fishback has spoken positively of Angie Nixon, a Democratic Socialist running for the U.S. Senate in Florida, while leveling criticisms of incumbent GOP Sen. Ashley Moody.

On the same day as his 2028 announcement, Fishback issued a public apology retracting claims he made during the primary that Donalds, as well as U.S. Rep. Cory Mills, were under federal investigation for sex trafficking. He described the statements as a "terrible mistake" and said he accepted the Department of Justice's statement that his claims were false.

Fishback's post-primary activities may not have made him many allies, but they have worked to keep him in the national conversation as he positions himself for a long-term political role. Whether that role is in elected office or through continuing his online persona remains to be seen, but it is not likely to be from the Oval Office.