Could Donald Trump actually serve a third term as US President? What we know

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Donald Trump reiterated his potential pursuit of a third term as president, challenging the constitutional two-term limit. He claimed public support for his extended service and hinted at unconventional methods to achieve it, eliciting polarized reactions from political leaders and citizens.

Donald Trump made headlines again on Sunday after he reiterated that he might pursue a third term as US president, even though such a move would challenge the constitutional two-term limit established by the 22nd Amendment.

“There are methods which you could do it,” Trump said, adding, “I’m not joking,” in a telephone interview with NBC News.

Later, talking to the reporters, he said that there were demands from the people for him to run for a third term.

“I have had more people ask me to have a third term, which in a way is a fourth term because the other election, the 2020 election was totally rigged. I don’t want to talk about a third term now because no matter how you look at it, we’ve got a long time to go,” Trump said, who would be 82 by the end of his potential second term.

Trump doesn’t rule out seeking a third term in NBC News interview

Though a third term for any US president would typically be unthinkable, Donald Trump has never followed political norms. Throughout his time in office, he has repeatedly tested the boundaries of presidential power and has shown a willingness to bend or even break the law to remain in office.

The 22nd Amendment, enacted in 1951 after Franklin D Roosevelt’s four consecutive terms, limits a US president to two elected terms.

Any attempt by Trump to remain in office beyond this limit would be legally questionable, and it remains uncertain how seriously he intends to pursue the idea.

When asked if one option could be having vice president JD Vance run for president and then “pass the baton” back to him, Trump acknowledged, “Well, that’s one. But there are others too. There are others.” However, he refused to elaborate further.

America 101: Why Do We Have Presidential Term Limits? | History

Nine US presidents have assumed office without being elected, all having previously served as vice presidents before stepping in due to the death or resignation of their predecessors. This historical precedent highlights alternative paths to the presidency beyond direct election. However, whether a two-term president could return to office via the vice presidency remains a legal gray area, The Conversation reported.

The 22nd Amendment restricts a president to two elected terms but does not explicitly prevent them from serving as vice president. Meanwhile, the 12th Amendment states that anyone “constitutionally ineligible” for the presidency cannot be vice president. It is unclear whether this applies to a two-term president or only to basic eligibility requirements such as age, citizenship, and residency.

If this issue were taken to the US Supreme Court, their ruling could determine whether a Trump-Vance ticket in 2024 might evolve into a Vance-Trump ticket in 2028. If elected under such a scenario, Vance could resign, allowing Trump to assume the presidency once again—a legal loophole that, if upheld, could redefine presidential succession.

The political leaders reacted differently to Trump’s remark with the right-wing leaders favouring the US president while the Democrats called it an effort to “dismantle democracy”.

“This is yet another escalation in his clear effort to take over the government and dismantle our democracy. If Congressional Republicans believe in the Constitution, they will go on the record opposing Trump’s ambitions for a third term,” Democrat and representative Daniel Goldman said.

Kayla Thompson, a 30-year-old former paralegal in Wisconsin, said she would “absolutely” like Trump to serve another term. “America needs him. America is headed in the right direction and, if he doesn’t do it, we’re probably headed backwards,” she said.

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