this post was submitted on 30 Mar 2025
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United States | News & Politics

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Republican President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was not joking about seeking a third presidential term, which is barred by the U.S. Constitution, but that it was too early to think about doing so.

Trump, who took office on January 20 for his second, non-consecutive White House term, has made vague allusions to seeking a third one but addressed it directly on Sunday in a telephone interview with NBC News.

"No, I'm not joking. I’m not joking," Trump said, but "it is far too early to think about it." "There are, there are methods which you could do it, as you know," he said. He declined to elaborate on any specific methods.

U.S. presidents are limited to two four-year terms, consecutive or not, according to the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

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[–] kmartburrito@lemmy.world 18 points 3 days ago
[–] zeppo@lemmy.world 15 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I know his supporters are incredibly stupid, but just his age alone makes this ridiculous. His brain is already senile cheese and he started out as a complete moron, so I doubt he’ll be thriving in 4 years. Other than that it’s blatantly illegal, of course.

[–] btaf45@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

but just his age alone makes this ridiculous.

What makes this ridiculous is that there is no possibility whatsoever.

Lame Duck Trump just doesn't want people calling him Lame Duck Trump. He knows that the low information voters who elected him might not be aware of the total impossibility of this, and he hopes that by saying this there might be slightly fewer people thinking of him as Lame Duck Trump.

[–] expr@programming.dev 2 points 2 days ago

He continually does illegal, unconstitutional shit. I don't know why you think this would be any different. He's fascist dictator, that's what they do.

It's true that it remains to be seen just how absolute his power is. It's a matter of how efficient and completely he can eradicate dissent. Time will tell.

[–] Gronk@aussie.zone 9 points 3 days ago

"There are, there are methods which you could do it, as you know," he said. He declined to elaborate on any specific methods.

This alone should tell you this is a fascist takeover, it's obviously being discussed behind closed doors. Donny can't help but run his mouth.

[–] ShellMonkey@lemmy.socdojo.com 9 points 3 days ago (1 children)

No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and 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.

It occured to me in another thread that from my non lawyer reading of the amendment that it doesn't exactly say 'can not become president for a 3rd term by succession if the elected president resigns'. It's a scary thought but his cult would probably go for it to elect some sycophant on the promise they resign day one with Donnie as VP.

[–] stankmut@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It wouldn't be as easy as just having him run as VP, since you can't be Vice President if you aren't eligible to be President.

[–] ShellMonkey@lemmy.socdojo.com 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Source on that one? Would be glad to see it but so far as I know there are listed requirements for president but not VP. My thinking is the phrasing about 'be elected' as a technicality.

[–] stankmut@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It's the final paragraph of the 12th amendment

But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.

[–] ShellMonkey@lemmy.socdojo.com 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

A good backstop, just being one who's read a pile of weasel worded legal docs I could see someone argue that the parameters to 'be' president (right age, natural born citizen) are distinct from the ability to be 'elected' president, but that's the kind of shifty logic I could see the SCOTUS using to allow it.

[–] jecxjo@midwest.social 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It's pretty cut and dry. Most if not all states would not even put him on the ballot and the right would have to fight to explain why this doesn't say exactly what it says.

Samuel Alito: "Challenge accepted!"

[–] zr0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 days ago

Military governed regimes also are not elected officials. If you take office and shoot anyone else who does not want to accept it, you are literally the “leader”.

Additionally, if there are no elections, for whatever reason, there is no one new to be elected.

So keep on saying “it is against the Constitution”. Say it and watch the world around you burn.

[–] PunnyName@lemmy.world 8 points 3 days ago

Yeah, this is no surprise to anyone who's been paying a lick of attention.

[–] HulkSmashBurgers@reddthat.com 5 points 3 days ago

I'm not at all surprised he'll try, and if the courts don't stop him, the 2nd amendment allows us to explore other options.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 2 points 3 days ago

sorry folks but im going to be posting this a lot as comments for the next few years. https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/2011-11-12

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 1 points 3 days ago

He’s obviously just making a joke here. The idea of terms will be abolished entirely of course.

[–] griff@lemmings.world -4 points 3 days ago

See you in heaven Donold