President Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm by openly discussing plans to seek an unprecedented third term in office, directly challenging the 22nd Amendment’s constitutional limit of two presidential terms.
The 1951 constitutional amendment, enacted after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four-term presidency, contains no ambiguity in barring presidents from more than two elected terms. Yet Trump floated the idea as responsive to supporters’ demands, telling reporters: “I have had more people ask me to have a third term, which in a way is a fourth term because the other election was totally rigged.” He quickly added that “we’ve got a long time to go,” leaving unclear whether he plans concrete action or is testing political waters.
The comments triggered immediate condemnation from Democrats and legal scholars. Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY), who led Trump’s first impeachment, called it “another escalation in his clear effort to take over the government and dismantle our democracy.” Meanwhile, former strategist Steve Bannon and far-right allies have actively encouraged the notion, with Bannon touting the idea at last month’s CPAC conference.
The controversy emerges amid heightened political violence, including this weekend’s arson attack at New Mexico’s GOP headquarters and ongoing attacks on Tesla properties linked to Elon Musk’s Trump support. Constitutional experts warn any attempt to bypass term limits would provoke an unprecedented crisis, though Trump’s willingness to broach the subject signals his continued assault on democratic guardrails just as the 2028 election cycle begins taking shape.
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