Trump Says ‘Not Joking’ About Possible Third Term as US President
Thedailycourierng.com
Donald Trump on Sunday repeated his suggestion that he might seek a third term as U.S. president, according to an NBC News report. This would defy the two-term limit stipulated in the U.S. Constitution.
In a Sunday-morning phone call with NBC News, Trump clarified his previous remarks about seeking another term, stating, “I’m not joking.” When asked about the feasibility of such a move, he added, “There are methods which you could do it.”
The 78-year-old billionaire has a history of hinting at serving more than two terms, but Sunday’s comments were among the most direct references to plans for achieving the goal.
Exploring Options for a Third Term
Since launching his second presidency, Trump has taken unprecedented executive actions, leveraging the influence of billionaire Elon Musk to dismantle swaths of the government. He claimed that many of his supporters want him to remain in office beyond two terms.
“A lot of people want me to do it,” Trump told NBC News. “But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go. You know, it’s very early in the administration.”
However, amending the U.S. Constitution to allow a third term would require a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate—a threshold that Trump’s Republican Party does not currently hold.
Trump acknowledged the legal hurdles but stated that he had been presented with plans that would allow him to seek re-election.
Possible Legal and Political Paths
When asked about a possible scenario in which Vice President J.D. Vance would run for president and then abdicate the role to him, Trump responded, “That’s one.” He further hinted at “other” methods but refused to share details.
If Trump does not approach Congress for a constitutional amendment, another route would be calling a constitutional convention, which requires the support of two-thirds of the country’s 50 states. Any proposed changes would then need to be ratified by three-quarters of all states—a highly unlikely scenario.
A constitutional convention has never been successfully called in U.S. history, with all 27 constitutional amendments passed through the congressional process.
Congressional Efforts to Extend Presidential Terms
In January, just days after Trump took office for his second term, Republican Andy Ogles of Tennessee introduced a House joint resolution proposing an amendment to allow U.S. presidents to serve up to three terms.
While the proposal has not yet gained widespread support, it signals a potential political push to extend presidential terms.
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Trump Says ‘Not Joking’ About Possible Third Term as US President