President Trump asserts third term comments are serious
Donald Trump states he is “not joking” about the possibility of a third term, which would necessitate a constitutional amendment.
Donald Trump has confirmed speculations that he might pursue an unconstitutional third presidential term, stating to NBC News on Sunday that he was “not joking.”
“Many people want me to go for it,” Trump mentioned in a phone interview. “But, I usually tell them there’s a long way to go, you know, it’s very early in the administration.”
According to the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, presidents can only be elected for two terms.
Trump hinted at possible “methods” to achieve this goal but refrained from providing any specifics, emphasizing instead his commitment to his current presidency.
There has only been one other president in U.S. history who served more than two terms. Can you name them?
FDR broke the two-term tradition during WW2, leading to the 22nd Amendment
George Washington, America’s first President, voluntarily stepped down after two terms, establishing an unofficial tradition for his successors.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first and only president to break this tradition. Amidst the Great Depression and as World War II began, he was elected for a third term. He was re-elected in 1944 but passed away the following year.
A movement in the House of Representatives to officially limit presidential terms, which is now the 22nd Amendment, was initiated two years after Roosevelt’s death.
Trump hints at a third term, but Constitution says no
Even though President Donald Trump frequently discusses a potential third term, the Constitution explicitly prohibits it.
Is it possible for Trump to run for a third term?
As it currently stands, no.
Amending the Constitution is a complex and rare process that necessitates a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate. States can also initiate an amendment, but it requires two-thirds of state legislatures to call for a constitutional convention and three-fourths to ratify it.
Trump indicated that one scenario where he could serve another term would be if Vice President JD Vance were to run for office and subsequently hand the position to Trump, according to NBC News.
“No matter how you look at it, there’s a lot of time left,” he told NBC. “We still have nearly four years to go, and that’s a significant amount of time, but despite that, many people are urging me to run again.”
Contributing: Riley Beggin
Kinsey Crowley is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social.
