Trump says there are ways to run for a third term
The U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is seriously considering running for a third presidential term. In a phone interview with NBC News, he remarked, “There are ways to do it,” but added that it is still too early to make a decision.
Trump’s comments suggest an attempt to bypass the U.S. Constitution, which currently prohibits serving more than two terms. He emphasized that he was “not joking” about the possibility of staying in office beyond 2028.
The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951 after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four-term presidency, clearly states that no person shall be elected to the presidency more than twice. This amendment was designed to prevent any single leader from holding excessive power.
NBC’s Kristen Welker asked Trump whether one potential strategy could be having his vice president, J.D. Vance, run for president and later transfer power to him. Trump responded, “Well, that’s one way. But there are other ways, too.” When pressed for details, he declined to elaborate.
Legal experts, such as Derek Muller from Notre Dame University, have dismissed these ideas as unrealistic. Muller pointed out that the 12th Amendment, passed in 1804, bars anyone ineligible for the presidency from serving as vice president, further limiting Trump’s options.
Despite these constitutional barriers, Trump’s political influence remains strong among his supporters. However, securing a third term would require overwhelming backing from federal and state officials, courts, and American voters.
Trump, who will be 82 at the end of a second term, insisted that his popularity would persuade Americans to support his extended presidency. However, polling data contradicts his claims. While he alleged having the “highest approval among Republicans in 100 years,” Gallup reports that George W. Bush’s approval reached 90% after 9/11, and George H.W. Bush’s hit 89% after the Gulf War—both significantly higher than Trump’s peak of 47%.
While Trump has joked about a third term before, his recent statements signal a more serious exploration of the possibility. Whether this is political rhetoric or a real challenge to constitutional norms, it raises important questions about the future of American democracy.
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