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Trump Flirts with a Third Term Amid Constitutional Hurdles
President Donald Trump has recently suggested the possibility of running for a third term, but experts contend that such a scenario would face significant legal challenges, according to an AFP report.
In an interview with NBC News on Sunday, Trump, now 78 years old, asserted he was "not joking" about his intentions to seek another term, mentioning "methods" that could make it feasible. However, most constitutional scholars disagree with his position, indicating that any effort to amend the law would result in an unprecedented political struggle.
Historical Context of Presidential Terms
The tradition of limiting presidents to two terms dates back to George Washington, though it wasn’t formally codified until more than a century later. Franklin D. Roosevelt is the only U.S. president to have served more than two consecutive terms, winning four elections between 1932 and 1944 before dying in office in 1945.
While some presidents like Ulysses S. Grant and Theodore Roosevelt have tried to secure a third term, they were not successful. Following his initial victory in 2016 and subsequent loss in 2020, Trump won back the presidency in 2024, making him the second U.S. president, after Grover Cleveland, to hold nonconsecutive terms.
The Constitutional Barrier to a Third Term
The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, clearly restricts any individual from being elected to the presidency more than twice. It states, "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice." Furthermore, the 12th Amendment would likely block Trump from running as vice president and later resuming the presidency.
A Long Shot Proposal
Although Trump has previously joked about serving beyond two terms, his latest comments were notably more concrete. He proposed a potential scenario in which Vice President JD Vance could run in 2028 and later "pass the baton" back to him.
In Congress, a resolution introduced by Republican Andy Ogles aims to allow nonconsecutive presidents to claim a third term, but its prospects are dim. Changing constitutional amendments requires substantial legislative support, making Trump’s return in 2028 a daunting challenge.
Despite these obstacles, betting markets have reacted to Trump’s assertions, shortening his odds for the 2028 election, placing him just behind JD Vance.
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