Posted on 01/24/2025 6:43:51 AM PST by Red Badger
Key Points
* A Republican House member introduced a resolution to amend the U.S. Constitution to allow President Donald Trump — and any other future president — to be elected to serve a third term.
* Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee introduced the measure days after Trump was sworn in for a second nonconsecutive term in the White House.
* The 22nd Amendment currently bars anyone from being elected to more than two terms.
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A Republican House member introduced a resolution Thursday to amend the U.S. Constitution in order to allow President Donald Trump — and any other future president — to be elected to a third term in the White House.
Trump “has proven himself to be the only figure in modern history capable of reversing our nation’s decay and restoring America to greatness, and he must be given the time necessary to accomplish that goal,” said Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee, who proposed extending the current maximum of two elected terms.
“It is imperative that we provide President Trump with every resource necessary to correct the disastrous course set by the Biden administration,” Ogles said in a statement.
“He is dedicated to restoring the republic and saving our country, and we, as legislators and as states, must do everything in our power to support him,” said Ogles, a hard-line conservative who is serving his second term in the House.
“I am proposing an amendment to the Constitution to revise the limitations imposed by the 22nd Amendment on presidential terms,” he added.
Ogles’ move came three days after Trump was sworn in for a second, nonconsecutive term — becoming only the second U.S. president to accomplish that feat.
And the resolution comes two months after Rep. Dan Goldman, a New York Democrat, introduced a House resolution that “reaffirms that the Twenty-second Amendment applies to two terms in the aggregate as President of the United States,” and that the amendment applies to the 78-year-old Trump.
A White House spokesperson did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Ogles’ resolution.
The 22nd Amendment of the Constitution states in part, “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
Ogles’ resolution seeks to revise this to read, ”’No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times.”
The original amendment also states, “No person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.”
In his statement Thursday, Ogles said the resolution he was introducing “would allow President Trump to serve three terms, ensuring that we can sustain the bold leadership our nation so desperately needs.”
Proposed in 1947 and ratified in 1951, the 22nd Amendment was authored to prevent a repeat of President Franklin Roosevelt’s unprecedented election to four terms in office.
To this day, Roosevelt is the only president ever to have been elected to more than two terms. He died in 1945, less than 90 days after his fourth inauguration.
Republicans currently hold an extremely narrow, three-seat majority in the House. Few, if any Democrats, are likely to vote for Ogles’ resolution with Trump in office.
Trump is open to it
Over the course of his political career, Trump has repeatedly hinted at his willingness to serve more than two terms in office.
“I suspect I won’t be running again, unless you say, ‘He’s so good we’ve got to figure something else out,’” Trump reportedly mused to House Republicans during a private meeting in November, shortly after his electoral victory over Democratic former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Speaking to members of the National Rifle Association in May, Trump said, ″I don’t know, are we going to be considered three-term or two-term? Are we three-term or two-term if we win?″
Trump’s openness to a third term does not come as a surprise to some people who know him.
The former Fox News journalist Geraldo Rivera, who was friendly with Trump for decades in New York, predicted in December that Trump and his allies would soon turn their attention to the 22nd Amendment.
“For future reference: President Trump & Co. will soon start chattering about revoking/amending the 22d Amendment, which limits presidents to two four year terms,” Rivera wrote on X.
Other ways to stay in power
Amending the Constitution is not the only way that Trump could stay in power after his current term ends.
“Though the 22nd Amendment prohibits Trump from being elected president again, it does not prohibit him from serving as president beyond Jan. 20, 2029,” wrote Philip Klinkner, a professor of government at Hamilton College, in a recent article in The Conversation.
“The reason for this is that the 22nd Amendment only prohibits someone from being ‘elected’ more than twice,” Klinker wrote. “It says nothing about someone becoming president in some other way than being elected to the office.”
Klinker wrote that one hypothetical scenario would be for Trump to run for vice president in 2028, and have Vice President JD Vance run at the top of the ticket, for president.
“If elected, Vance could then resign, making Trump president again,” Klinker wrote. “But Vance would not even have to resign in order for a Vice President Trump to exercise the power of the presidency.
The 25th Amendment to the Constitution states that if a president declares that ‘he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office … such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.’ ”
Another scenario Klinker imagined is for Trump to encourage a family member to run for, and win, the White House. Once elected, they would serve as little more than a figurehead president, while Trump made the key decisions.
"We may have to go for an extra term...", Trump campaign stop in Fayetteville.
"Are we going to be considered three term or two term?", Trump in speech to the NRA.
Much to do about nothing. I wouldnt wish that on him after putting up with that bordello in DC for four years.
Aside from that, memories seem to be extremely short. This will cross over if it passed. Anyone want to put up with the likes of Obama again?
Two terms, cross legislation to the whores inhabiting the capital building. Only thing would be to limit them to two terms.
Donald J. Trump shall be the oldest person EVER to serve as President when he completes his term in 2029, and to ask that he continue on is to place far too great a burden upon any person well into their nineth decade of life. We should be grooming his successor in every way possible, and JD Vance is our most advanced acolyte available at the moment. It is not beyond expectations that a couple of more generations should be going through some of the basic preparations and vetting for the future years 2036 and later.
Look at how long the “Progressives” worked at grooming Barack Hussein Obama for the Presidency, and how they hustled him through when the opportunity arose. Kamala Harris was far less prepared, because Joe Biden just had to have “his turn”.
The GOP needs to get over the intoxication of the election.
When the full extent of the Act of 1871 is understood, Trump hasn’t served any terms yet.
Why was Trump’s left hand at his side during the Oath on Monday? Melania was holding not one, but two bibles. Vance put his hand on the bible, but not Trump.
Introduce a resolution to repeal the 17th amendment and let the state legislatures decide the term limits for their Senators on a case-by-case basis.
-PJ
No.
Eight is Enough.
Better idea is term limits on ALL government such that no one can be a government official/employee for their entire life.
Maybe a minimum hiring age of 30 years for non-military to ensure the person has had real world experience.
And mandatory retirement from government “service”,including contracts and all political offices,at 85.
Enough is enough.
But it's still nice (and fun) to play the Dems and watch their heads explode (and waste their time).
But still, it's always best to go out on a high note...
Agreed.
This is likely just trolling. When president Trump leaves office, he will be 82 years old. Instead of going for a third term, he should spend a lot of time cultivating the next POTUS, his cabinet, and major bureaucrats.
And make lots of lists of people, both positive and blacklist, for the next guy. Since J.D. Vance seems to be a “stand up guy”, he can even strategize with him about his campaign, and plan to retain or improve the conservative House and Senate.
He can also move to make one or more of the conservative colleges into a conservative “nursery”, to prep future Republican leaders, congressmen, senators, and conservative judges. If done properly, this could have effects that last for generations.
No.
Yup
Why not just proclaim them emperors? We don't need any dynasties.
I don’t agree.
President Trump will get a lot done in four years and then turn it over to his Vice President who could get eight years.
The better approach would be to make this only apply to Trump and make it President for Life.
Worth trying just for that reason!! :)
That said, a bad idea otherwise, imagine 3 terms of Obama or Kamala?
It will, but I still think it’s a bad idea because it can backfire and be used in cases like obama.
This country could not have survived a third term of him.
“Better idea is term limits on ALL government such that no one can be a government official/employee for their entire life.”
Perhaps a progressive income tax on income from government power and privilege:
1st $2,000,000 0% (about nine years of Congressional salary)
2nd $2,000,000 20%
3rd $2,000,000 40%
4th $2,000,000 60%
5th $2,000,000 80%
any additional amount 99%.
I would prefer Vance or DeSantis.
Trump will do fine, though.
Agreed except I’d say mandatory retirement at 75 not 85.
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