Even as US President Donald Trump keeps hinting that he may seek a third term, senior Republicans assure that he is joking. Donald Trump at the weekend stated that he was “not joking” and hinted at exploring ways of evading the two-term limit. He did not explain how he would do it.
The US Constitution’s 22nd Amendment prohibits a President from serving two terms. However, Donald Trump’s repeated comments on the matter have created suspicion about whether there might be legal loopholes or an outright disregard for constitutional conventions, which has bothered Republicans and political observers alike.
Republicans Say It’s Just a Joke
Top Republican leaders have brushed off Trump‘s comment. Senator Markwayne Mullin labeled the comment “tongue-in-cheek,” pointing out that the Constitution bars a third term. Senator John Cornyn pointed out Trump‘s “great sense of humor,” while Senate Majority Leader John Thune described Trump as “probably having some fun“ with the press.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise made it official that there are no plans to amend the Constitution. “There‘s no proposal to change the Constitution right now,” Scalise declared.
Could Trump Run for a Third Term?
Legally, Trump is not allowed to serve a third term unless the Constitution is altered. Two-thirds support from both the House and Senate would be needed to do this, followed by 38 states’ ratification out of a possible 50 states. This is virtually impossible, considering at least 18 states are under Democratic control and Republicans do not have a supermajority in Congress.
Even with these constitutional obstacles, Trump’s history of defying democratic norms has raised alarms. He never conceded the 2020 election and still insists that he won. This has caused some to worry that he may try to override legal boundaries if re-elected in 2024.
Republican leaders currently hold that Trump’s comments are not serious. But with his control over the party, his words still feed political doubt.
