A Third Term As POTUS For Trump? Legal Experts Say It Could Happen

Earlier today, the New York Times published an interesting article by Neil Vigdor entitled, “No, Trump Cannot Run for Re-election Again in 2028.”

According to Vigdor, Donald Trump is barred from seeking a third term in the White House because the U.S. Constitution was amended in 1951 to bar such a thing from happening. This came after Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to four terms in office.

The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified in 1951, says that “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”

Kimberly Wehle, who teaches constitutional law at the University of Baltimore and wrote a book titled “How to Read the Constitution — and Why,” said that the measure left no ambiguity and was intended to place a check on the president.

“There was a concern about entrenching power in a kinglike manner,” she said.

Trump cannot run a third time for the presidency, right? Well, when you consider that he has willfully violated just about every existing rule already, is it safe to assume he wouldn’t try to buck the Constitution itself and make himself president for life?

Legal experts weighed in on the issue, with many noting that Trump thinks the law applies to everyone but him.

The Constitution also says he requires the "advise & consent" of the Senate to approve his nominations.

— Joyce Vance (@joycewhitevance.bsky.social) 2024-11-18T13:05:03.320Z

Joyce is right to be skeptical. Criminals find ways around inconvenient laws, and in Trump’s case, the Constitution. He violated the Emoluments Clause with no consequences. He’s getting away with violating criminal laws because of SCOTUS. But (continue to next)

— Jill Wine-Banks (@jillwine-banks.bsky.social) 2024-11-18T15:22:18.756Z

this is even worse because if he gets away with recess appointments, it destroys the foundation of our democracy

— Jill Wine-Banks (@jillwine-banks.bsky.social) 2024-11-18T15:22:18.757Z

Sounds like a potential future case for the U.S. Supreme Court, doesn’t it? However, it’s currently controlled by a 6-3 conservative majority that recently gave American presidents criminal immunity for “official acts.” Does anyone think they’d rule against Trump?

Maybe Trump will simply declare himself Supreme Dictator and then fulfill his wish of being the 21st century’s Adolf Hitler. What could possibly go wrong?