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highplainsdem

(55,504 posts)
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 02:05 PM Mar 30

Trump won't rule out seeking a third term in the White House, tells NBC News 'there are methods' for doing so

Source: NBC

President Donald Trump did not rule out the possibility of seeking a third term in the White House, which is prohibited by the Constitution under the 22nd Amendment, saying in an exclusive interview with NBC News that there were methods for doing so and clarifying that he was “not joking.”

“A lot of people want me to do it,” Trump said in a Sunday-morning phone call with NBC News, referring to his allies. “But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, it’s very early in the administration.”

-snip-

Amending the Constitution to abolish the two-term limit would be exceedingly difficult, requiring either a two-thirds vote of Congress or two-thirds of the states agreeing to call a constitutional convention to propose changes. Either route would then require ratification from three-quarters of the states.

The president pointed to his poll numbers, saying that “a lot of people would like me to” hold office for a third term.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-third-term-white-house-methods-rcna198752



Trump was asked about a possible method where Vance would run for president and then "pass the role to Trump" and Trump said that was one possible method, added that "there are others" - but said "No" when asked to share any of the others.

And the Trump-as-VP method would be unconstitutional, too, since his two terms as president woud mean he couldn't run as VP because he can't become president again.
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Trump won't rule out seeking a third term in the White House, tells NBC News 'there are methods' for doing so (Original Post) highplainsdem Mar 30 OP
As many on Bluesky have said: choie Mar 30 #1
A toadying GOP rep who introduced a bill to let a president serve a third term specifically excluded highplainsdem Mar 30 #7
Doing what they do best...wasting time & money NotHardly Mar 30 #21
obama? DonCoquixote Mar 30 #11
I used to joke about that Hieronymus Phact Mar 30 #15
and a box of Cigars! DonCoquixote Mar 30 #20
Obama has no interest in running or doing anything beyond the bare minimum every four years. Self Esteem Mar 30 #23
Perhaps you missed his many instances of support for the Harris campaign? mahina Saturday #75
Perhaps you missed the part where I said 'every four years'? Self Esteem Saturday #80
"A lot of people want me to do it" dweller Mar 30 #2
Now That's the Truth (!!!) wyn borkins Mar 30 #60
We're on to your game Diaper Don. johnnyfins Mar 30 #3
There certainly is one method that's 100% true Polybius Mar 30 #4
He's saying this so he won't seem like a lame duck. Intractable Mar 30 #5
Healthwise, he's not up for this one BonnieJW Mar 30 #25
But, but Biden was too old!! n/t the nelm Mar 30 #49
In your dreams, Donnie! ProudMNDemocrat Mar 30 #6
King Donald..... SergeStorms Mar 31 #70
Guess it's never occurred to him that if he managed to get that legalized somehow, he would be creamed by Obama. Vinca Mar 30 #8
Evidently not - see comment #7 TommyT139 Mar 30 #47
He's 78 and fading fast NickB79 Mar 30 #9
Yes... to everyone but him. n/t Harker Mar 30 #18
Don't forget Strom Thurmond, Jesse Helms, etc. He doesn't drink and so far seems cogent (in relative terms)..... Evolve Dammit Mar 30 #34
He is already homegirl Mar 30 #41
He leaves the White House for good on or before 1/20/2029...... lastlib Mar 30 #10
And there are alternative ways to MAKE Captain Zero Mar 30 #54
As Carl said to that Boy Traildogbob Saturday #77
Of course, gotta keep the grift going JoseBalow Mar 30 #12
In Trump's fried and senile little mind.... Escape Mar 30 #13
Dang, I'd like to see him run the Derby! tanyev Mar 30 #57
Damn, you beat me to it! robbob Mar 30 #66
It's for entire horses, not horses' asses. n/t valleyrogue Saturday #82
Trump may try the Executive Order route, after all he has directly challenged the 14th amendment, why not the 22nd andym Mar 30 #14
Just more Abstractartist Mar 30 #16
It's 50/50 probability he will try to run again. Irish_Dem Mar 30 #17
Against Obama. tavernier Mar 30 #22
Pay per view. Now that would get him real ratings. Ali vs. an out-of-shape White Hope. Sting like a bee. n/t Evolve Dammit Mar 30 #37
Obama isn't going to run. He's completely checked out. Self Esteem Mar 30 #59
There is absolutely ZERO chance he will try to run again. Wiz Imp Mar 30 #44
This is just whistling past the graveyard. Self Esteem Mar 30 #61
Ha ha. Sure Trump will follow the laws and constitution. Irish_Dem Mar 30 #67
I think Satan would have brought him home by then. Joinfortmill Mar 30 #19
Don the Distractor. Squirrel! bronxiteforever Mar 30 #24
"a lot of people would like me to" Yeah? Name them. Grins Mar 30 #26
Yes, homegirl Mar 30 #42
His rube supporters would be delighted. Turbineguy Mar 30 #27
Oh but according to some people on another thread.... AkFemDem Mar 30 #28
He really cares naught for the Constitution. AllyCat Mar 30 #29
It worked for Putin. Bluetus Mar 30 #30
12th Amendment Bluetus Mar 31 #69
There are only two realistic options and both are unlikely. Self Esteem Mar 30 #31
Him running as VP wouldn't work either. The VP has to be ready to assume the presidentcy PortTack Mar 30 #33
I explained why it could work. Self Esteem Mar 30 #43
Trump still insists he WAS elected in 2020. DFW Mar 30 #52
Thanks for the laugh WA-03 Democrat Mar 30 #53
He thinks he hasn't had enough headlines today. Klarkashton Mar 30 #32
"Unconstitutional" doesn't mean shit to this administration. Karasu Mar 30 #35
So that means rambler_american Mar 30 #36
iNQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW homegirl Mar 30 #38
All 3 claudette Mar 30 #40
There are not claudette Mar 30 #39
Illegal president mac56 Mar 30 #45
These lines subg by liberalhistorian Mar 30 #46
The other method he refused to explain is dictator for life. Martin Eden Mar 30 #48
His simplest method is to... WestMichRad Mar 30 #50
I'd like T*ump to be in prison for a third term. COL Mustard Mar 30 #51
This wannabe king thinks he can use a similar dodge as Putin did in Russia. Eugene Mar 30 #55
Don't fall for another one of his distractions jgmiller Mar 30 #56
When does it start being real then? Self Esteem Mar 30 #58
My point is there are plenty of things now to go after him for jgmiller Mar 30 #62
I feel he's doing this now to exactly pacify us to the idea. Self Esteem Mar 30 #65
LOL. No kidding! ANYTHING to bury the signalgate story. PSPS Mar 30 #64
Tamping down the third term hype for Trump LetMyPeopleVote Mar 30 #63
Really need his Big Mac diet to activate. EllieBC Mar 30 #68
KnR Hekate Mar 31 #71
MaddowBlog-Despite the Constitution, Trump says he's 'not joking' about eyeing a third term LetMyPeopleVote Mar 31 #72
I also doubt that trump will be around for a third term LetMyPeopleVote Mar 31 #73
If Obama won't run. . . Collimator Apr 1 #74
"Let them eat cake" and "Taxes are for little people" bucolic_frolic Saturday #76
Any attempt at this would call for a process to stop his pulse. Callie1979 Saturday #78
The marmalade shartcannon will not make to any ballot, but he can raise a boatload of money Brother Buzz Saturday #79
He only has to run for vice prez Fichefinder Saturday #81

choie

(5,359 posts)
1. As many on Bluesky have said:
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 02:07 PM
Mar 30

Hope he understands that Obama will then be able to run a third time as well.

highplainsdem

(55,504 posts)
7. A toadying GOP rep who introduced a bill to let a president serve a third term specifically excluded
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 02:24 PM
Mar 30

presidents who'd served two consecutive terms, so Obama wouldn't be eligible.

None of this will get anywhere, of course, and it's likely Trump's real plan is dictatorship for life, once he thinks he has the military behind him.

DonCoquixote

(13,839 posts)
11. obama?
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 02:55 PM
Mar 30

Hell,if it was nto for term limits, Clinton would be president...BILL CLINTON

sadly,I would prefer it toTrump

Self Esteem

(2,062 posts)
23. Obama has no interest in running or doing anything beyond the bare minimum every four years.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 03:53 PM
Mar 30

He's the most popular politician out there and rarely speaks up. Why does someone actually think he'd run again?

mahina

(19,701 posts)
75. Perhaps you missed his many instances of support for the Harris campaign?
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 03:19 PM
Saturday

He put it on the line, again. I do not agree that what you said is factual. I do agree with your conclusion though, he does not want to run for president again.

Self Esteem

(2,062 posts)
80. Perhaps you missed the part where I said 'every four years'?
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 06:52 PM
Saturday

That would include the time he campaigned for Harris' campaign. Literally my point.

It is factual. How many times did Obama speak up during Trump's first term (outside the 2020 election when he, again, showed back up)? How many times has Obama spoken up since Trump took office a second time? He spoke up about the Harvard ordeal because that's his school. But guess how many times Obama has mentioned the El Salvador prisons?

Zero.

Or Abrego Garcia?

Also zero.

It's clear he is not motivated to go after Trump nearly as much as say someone like Hillary, who speaks out on every major topic all the time.

Obama continues to play things very low-key. I think that's proof enough he would never run for a third term if given the opportunity.

wyn borkins

(1,245 posts)
60. Now That's the Truth (!!!)
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 06:56 PM
Mar 30

"A lot of people want me to do it (&) all of them live inside his head".

johnnyfins

(1,985 posts)
3. We're on to your game Diaper Don.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 02:12 PM
Mar 30

He knows full well it's never going to happen. He is saying this to get the press to stop talking about signal, doge, the midterms, and other assorted disasters.

Polybius

(19,800 posts)
4. There certainly is one method that's 100% true
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 02:13 PM
Mar 30

If the 22nd gets repealed before the 2028 primaries, he gets to run again. That's the only way. But it won't happen.

Intractable

(976 posts)
5. He's saying this so he won't seem like a lame duck.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 02:14 PM
Mar 30

Once a politician is labelled as such, they can't get anything done.

Healthwise, he won't be up for a third term.

ProudMNDemocrat

(19,595 posts)
6. In your dreams, Donnie!
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 02:22 PM
Mar 30

Go fuck yourself! You won't last this final term if you are lucky to escape health scares.

It would be years before a Constitutional Amendment to be ratified.

SergeStorms

(19,584 posts)
70. King Donald.....
Mon Mar 31, 2025, 12:28 PM
Mar 31

laughs at your quaint "Constitutional Amendment." The far-right has purchased all three arms of the government. They don't intend to give it back to "the people."

Vinca

(51,930 posts)
8. Guess it's never occurred to him that if he managed to get that legalized somehow, he would be creamed by Obama.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 02:41 PM
Mar 30

NickB79

(19,868 posts)
9. He's 78 and fading fast
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 02:50 PM
Mar 30

If he lives another 4 years, he'll be a senile vegetable at the rate he's going now.

Evolve Dammit

(20,516 posts)
34. Don't forget Strom Thurmond, Jesse Helms, etc. He doesn't drink and so far seems cogent (in relative terms).....
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 04:21 PM
Mar 30

lastlib

(25,769 posts)
10. He leaves the White House for good on or before 1/20/2029......
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 02:51 PM
Mar 30

Vertically or horizontally, it's up to him, but he goes.

JoseBalow

(7,252 posts)
12. Of course, gotta keep the grift going
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 03:20 PM
Mar 30

Fundraising for office is the most lucrative thing he has ever done. No way he's ever gonna walk away from free cash.

Escape

(173 posts)
13. In Trump's fried and senile little mind....
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 03:32 PM
Mar 30

I am sure he is also confident that in the next few years, he will win The Nobel Prize, an Oscar and the Kentucky Derby.

Hopefully, the press won't indulge him too much in these wet dreams. We don't really need to hear about it..

robbob

(3,686 posts)
66. Damn, you beat me to it!
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 07:55 PM
Mar 30

I was going to say “without a horse. Horses are for losers…”. 😂

andym

(5,944 posts)
14. Trump may try the Executive Order route, after all he has directly challenged the 14th amendment, why not the 22nd
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 03:33 PM
Mar 30

according to the unitary executive theory of some extreme right wingers, the President is basically king for 4 years.

Abstractartist

(226 posts)
16. Just more
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 03:39 PM
Mar 30

Just more bullshit his MAGAt base wants to hear. I’ll say most likely most of the republican congress don’t like trump, but tolerate him. You would not get enough votes in either house or senate to get a third term. I’m not convinced he will finish this term.

Evolve Dammit

(20,516 posts)
37. Pay per view. Now that would get him real ratings. Ali vs. an out-of-shape White Hope. Sting like a bee. n/t
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 04:24 PM
Mar 30

Self Esteem

(2,062 posts)
59. Obama isn't going to run. He's completely checked out.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 06:46 PM
Mar 30

Dude can't even be bothered to release a statement about Trump - and people think he'll decide to run for a third term?

Wiz Imp

(4,759 posts)
44. There is absolutely ZERO chance he will try to run again.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 04:36 PM
Mar 30

It is clearly unconstitutional with no chance of being changed in a couple years. Why would he want to run again when he could lose? If he doesn't want to give up power, he will try to circumvent the constitution that way but it makes no sense to run again. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN.

Now if you want to claim he will try to stay in office beyond 2028, then I will agree, but he will never go through another election.

Personally, I think there is a 95% chance he is dead by 2028.

Self Esteem

(2,062 posts)
61. This is just whistling past the graveyard.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 06:58 PM
Mar 30

The constitution allows for enough ambiguity as it relates to the 22nd Amendment and the 12th that I could absolutely see the Supreme Court ruling in his favor if he decided to run as Vice President with Vance on the ticket as President.

The 22nd Amendment was worded just poorly enough that it can be manipulated in an argument since it only stipulates that a person cannot be elected to the office of President more than twice:

Here is how the Amendment reads:

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


Elected is the key word here because in this scenario, Trump technically wouldn't be elected president. He would assume the presidency through the line of succession. In this scenario, he would be elected to the office of VICE President. An example that would certainly be used is that Gerald Ford was not elected president. Hell, he wasn't even elected Vice President. He assumed the office, though, when Nixon resigned.

Now how does that work with the 12th Amendment, which forbids those who are not eligible for the presidency to serve as president?

Simple: the 22nd Amendment only discusses elections - not service requirements as outlined in the 12th (age and citizenship). It can be argued that because the 22nd Amendment only specifies those elected to the office of Presidency, and not appointed or assuming the office through the line of succession, that Trump qualifies for the presidency as he meets the eligibility qualifications of age and citizenship.

Would it be a successful argument? I'm inclined to say no as the intent of the 22nd Amendment is pretty clear. But with this Supreme Court? I'm not confident at all they wouldn't rule the loophole is legal and therefore Trump running as VP does not disqualify him from the presidency.

The biggest issue would be how the Supreme Court understands 'constitutionally ineligible' to serve. It does say in the 22nd Amendment that the Vice President must be constitutionally eligible to be president. But again, whether Trump (or any other two term serving president) is eligible would come down to the 22nd Amendment and the interpretation of 'elected'. The case would be that since Trump is not being elected to the office of Presidency, as it clearly is outlined in the 22nd Amendment, therefore his being on the ticket would not make him constitutionally ineligible. Flimsy interpretation of the law? Absolutely. One they'll try? If he decides to go that course ... absolutely again. One the Supreme Court will rule in his favor over? I wouldn't put it past 'em.

Irish_Dem

(68,464 posts)
67. Ha ha. Sure Trump will follow the laws and constitution.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 09:07 PM
Mar 30

And not rig another election.

Comedy gold to think otherwise.

AkFemDem

(2,488 posts)
28. Oh but according to some people on another thread....
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 04:03 PM
Mar 30

We shouldn't want him to be impeached or eat too many cheeseburgers because "Vance would be worse than Trump"

Bluetus

(969 posts)
30. It worked for Putin.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 04:09 PM
Mar 30

All these things come down to who is going to stop him? The police, the secret service, the military, the DoJ are all under the executive branch.

The fact that something is illegal or unconstitutional really doesn't mean much these days.

Bluetus

(969 posts)
69. 12th Amendment
Mon Mar 31, 2025, 09:30 AM
Mar 31

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

The intent is obvious. If you aren't 35 years old or have already served your limit of terms, you can't be VP. However, the law often comes down to trickery and pretzel reasoning, kind of the meaning of the word "is".

Literally, the 12th and 25th are mostly about ELECTING POTUS and VP. So one could argue that Trump would not be "constitutionally eligible" to be ELECTED as VP, but he could be appointed because the Constitution doesn't explicitly prohibit that. This is the "other scenario" Trump is talking about. He doesn't want to say it out loud because it is such a cynical, farcical idea. But briefly, it would go like this:

In 2028 Mr A and Ms B are elected and take office on Jan 20 2029. Immediately Ms B resigns. Mr A nominates Trump who is confirmed by simple majorities of both houses. Then Mr A resigns, making Trump President.

Self Esteem

(2,062 posts)
31. There are only two realistic options and both are unlikely.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 04:16 PM
Mar 30

The first is the option floated in the article: run as Vance's running mate, Vance resigns and he assumes the presidency. This is probably the most realistic only because the language in the Constitution leads an opening. In the 22nd Amendment, it stipulates: No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice....

The term elected is important because in this scenario, Trump technically isn't being elected to the office of President, but rather the office of Vice President. It's definitely exploiting the language of the amendment but I wouldn't trust the Supreme Court to uphold the intent of it.

But Ford was an unelected president.

Its relationship with the 12th Amendment, which defines who is constitutionally eligible for the office, would surely be where this battle would be fought in such scenario.

I'm not convinced the Court wouldn't rule in Trump's favor if that's the path he takes.

The other option is just running anyway and daring the courts to stop him. My guess is that the courts would rule he's ineligible but then what? It seems most Republicans will blindly support him. If the Court rules in early 2028 he's not eligible, the party can still make him their nominee. It then falls to the states to ban him from the ballot. I'm guessing every blue state will but what about Republican states or states with Republican legislatures? Will they vote to put him on the ballot and if there's enough for 270 electoral votes... what happens next?

The Courts can rule. Democrats can sue. Hell, Chief Justice Roberts could refuse the oath be given... it would throw the country into a legit constitutional crisis and Democrats couldn't even toss the electors of states that voted Trump without a majority in both the House and Senate (in order to toss electoral votes, during the certification, an objection must have both a signature of a House and Senate member before they debate and then vote as separate bodies and at that time, a majority must be reached in both chambers to toss the electoral votes) - or they'd have to hope for a good amount of cross-over votes but I'm not sure they could (and it's not a good bet that the Democrats have a majority in the Senate by January, 2029 but maybe).

Regardless, that last option is the messiest. So, I'm inclined to believe they'll aim for the first if they choose.

Of course, the cleanest is the most unlikely: just repeal the 22nd but the votes aren't there for that.

PortTack

(35,572 posts)
33. Him running as VP wouldn't work either. The VP has to be ready to assume the presidentcy
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 04:20 PM
Mar 30

None of this is going to happen anyway

Self Esteem

(2,062 posts)
43. I explained why it could work.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 04:36 PM
Mar 30

Will it? I'm not sure but the language of the 22nd is not necessarily incompatible with the 12th Amendment. If his eligibility is only limited based on the 22nd, the language leaves an opening as it only mentions those who are elected to the office of the President. He would not be elected in this scenario, but elevated through the line of succession, and since the 22nd Amendment only concerns qualifications for elections, he would not be ineligible according to the 12th.

That's not to say I agree with that interpretation but that will be the argument.

Do you trust this Supreme Court to make the right call? I don't.

DFW

(57,786 posts)
52. Trump still insists he WAS elected in 2020.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 05:17 PM
Mar 30

By his own definition, this is already the third time he has been elected.

WA-03 Democrat

(3,296 posts)
53. Thanks for the laugh
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 05:31 PM
Mar 30

Maybe he will just take the Sharpie out and cross out President Biden.

liberalhistorian

(20,879 posts)
46. These lines subg by
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 04:40 PM
Mar 30

Juan Peron in Evita, during the song "A New Argentina", would certainly apply to the Slobfather's autocratic dictatorial attitude here:
"How annoying that we have to hold elections for our cause; the inconvenience, having to get a majority
If normal methods of persuasion fail to bring us applause, there are other ways of establishing authority!

Martin Eden

(14,163 posts)
48. The other method he refused to explain is dictator for life.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 04:43 PM
Mar 30

Which is what he intended from the start.

WestMichRad

(2,248 posts)
50. His simplest method is to...
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 04:57 PM
Mar 30

… just cancel the Constitution. That eliminates the courts and those radical judges who would say he can’t do that. Then he can just appoint himself emperor for life and get on with totally destroying our country.
… I think (and hope)…

Eugene

(64,504 posts)
55. This wannabe king thinks he can use a similar dodge as Putin did in Russia.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 06:28 PM
Mar 30

Once more, the Donvict insists that the plain language of the law isn't clear enough to block what he is trying.

jgmiller

(542 posts)
56. Don't fall for another one of his distractions
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 06:38 PM
Mar 30

Concentrate on the crimes he is committing not his fantasy of crimes in the future. We need to stop jumping at every idiotic thing that comes out of his mouth.

Self Esteem

(2,062 posts)
58. When does it start being real then?
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 06:45 PM
Mar 30

This feels like ignoring the warning signs until it's too late.

jgmiller

(542 posts)
62. My point is there are plenty of things now to go after him for
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 06:59 PM
Mar 30

I'm not saying it's not real in his mind and his supporters but you can't win a war by fighting a battle that hasn't even begun yet or might not ever begin. This is what he wants it's what he's always done he throws so much stuff at his opponents that they don't know what to go after so they just jump from one thing to the next. This is why he wins all the time, we need to be smarter than this.

Self Esteem

(2,062 posts)
65. I feel he's doing this now to exactly pacify us to the idea.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 07:44 PM
Mar 30

So that when it finally happens, and he announces, 50% of the country will shrug.

LetMyPeopleVote

(161,888 posts)
63. Tamping down the third term hype for Trump
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 07:17 PM
Mar 30

Believe or not, this issue was discussed a while back when there were discussions about Bill Clinton running as vice-president on a Gore-Clinton ticket. The thought was that Gore would resign after the election and President Clinton could serve a third term. This concept was discussed and rejected.

The three ways that trump could run for a third term (i) a constitutional amendment, (ii) trump running as vice president and then have his running mate resign and (iii) trump becoming speaker of the house and then the POTUS and Vice President resigning.

A constitutional amendment is not likely. https://upload.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=3380306 It is unlikely that such an amendment could get through congress much less be ratified by the required number of states.

The third option has so many variables that it is also unlikely. trump would have to be appointed/elected as Speaker and then both the POTUS and the VP resign. This option does not have the 12th Amendment issue but has so many variables that it is unlikely

The 12th Amendment is clear that no one can run as VP if they are not eligible to run as POTUS. I agree with the legal analysis set forth below.

https://bsky.app/profile/derektmuller.bsky.social/post/3llmjzwnvdc2l



https://electionlawblog.org/?p=149214
As I told the Associated Press:

Derek Muller, a professor of election law at Notre Dame, noted that the 12th Amendment, which was ratified in 1804, says “no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.”

Muller said that indicates that if Trump is not eligible to run for president again because of the 22nd Amendment, he is not eligible to run for vice president, either.

“I don’t think there’s any ‘one weird trick’ to getting around presidential term limits,” Muller said.

In addition, pursuing a third term would require extraordinary acquiescence by federal and state officials, not to mention the courts and voters themselves.

He suggested that Trump is talking about a third term for political reasons to “show as much strength as possible.”


Now, there’s no question there is potential constitutional ambiguity here, as Professor Brian Kalt has discussed. But scholars like Professor Michael Dorf a quarter century ago were bolstering the idea of a Gore-Clinton ticket in 2000:

Thus, if Clinton were to be elected Vice President, and ascend to the Presidency based on, for example, Mr. Gore’s resignation, then nothing unconstitutional would have occurred. Clinton would have been elected to the Presidency only twice — though he would serve as President thrice. Under the Twenty-Second Amendment, that is perfectly permissible.

. . . But in seeking the Vice-Presidency — a job, in John Nance Garner’s unforgettable phrase, “not worth a bucket of warm spit” — Clinton would hardly be bidding for dictatorial powers.


Similar claims were made by Professor Brian Gray and elsewhere. But in my earlier scholarship, I found this interpretation weaker than the one advanced by Matthew Franck:

It follows from the 22nd Amendment that Bill Clinton, being “constitutionally ineligible” to be elected president, is ineligible to become president by another route. He is, in short, ineligible to be president, and therefore ineligible to become vice president under the 12th amendment.


I agree. But it’s worth noting that if–and I think it’s still a big if–such a gambit arose, there are tremendous complexities in its implementation. Not the least of which is the fact that after Trump v. Anderson, I believe the Court expressly left open the opportunity for states to review qualifications of presidential (and vice-presidential) candidates outside of the 14th Amendment and exclude candidates on that basis. Vice presidential nominations and ballot access deadlines for them occur in late summer, giving an exceedingly truncated window for review–and, frankly, one that may leave a major party without a vice presidential candidate on the ballot in several states with the approval of the United States Supreme Court. (Setting aside, of course, the will power of someone like J.D. Vance relinquishing the presidency.)

I really enjoy Professor Hasen's election law blog. This article made me smile.

Finally, I doubt that trump will live long enough for these options to be necessary.

EllieBC

(3,445 posts)
68. Really need his Big Mac diet to activate.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 10:01 PM
Mar 30

All that sodium and fat need to start working stat. It’s only March. It’s only March and most of us already have a fucking ulcer from this shit.

LetMyPeopleVote

(161,888 posts)
72. MaddowBlog-Despite the Constitution, Trump says he's 'not joking' about eyeing a third term
Mon Mar 31, 2025, 12:51 PM
Mar 31

The 22nd Amendment says, “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” The incumbent president doesn't fully accept that.
https://bsky.app/profile/stevebenen.com/post/3lloclwudhk2t

If you're just catching up on news from the weekend, Trump said he's "not joking" about possibly trying to pursue a third term.

The Constitution says, "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice." Trump apparently doesn't accept that.



https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/constitution-trump-says-s-not-joking-eyeing-third-term-rcna198827

This strategy came to mind anew upon hearing the Republican talk about possibly pursuing a third term in the White House. NBC News reported:

President Donald Trump did not rule out the possibility of seeking a third term in the White House, which is prohibited by the Constitution under the 22nd Amendment, saying in an exclusive interview with NBC News that there were methods for doing so and clarifying that he was “not joking.” ... “A lot of people want me to do it,” Trump said in a Sunday-morning phone call with NBC News, referring to his allies.


.....In fact, in his interview with NBC News, Trump was hardly subtle. “I’m not joking,” he said, adding that there are “methods” in which he could pursue such a goal.

NBC News asked about a possible scenario in which Vice President JD Vance would run for office and then pass the role to Trump. Trump responded that “that’s one” method. “But there are others, too,” Trump added. Asked to share another method, Trump simply responded “no.”


Hours after the NBC News report reached the public, the president chatted with reporters aboard Air Force One and dodged a series of questions on the topic, though he claimed that “people” have asked him to run for a third term — which he said would be a fourth term “in a way” because his 2020 race was “totally rigged.” (It was not rigged; he lost fair and square, and he’s been lying uncontrollably about this for more than four years.).....

I won’t pretend to know where this is headed or the degree to which the president is prepared to defy constitutional law. But Scott Cummings, a professor of legal ethics at the UCLA School of Law, made a comment on "The Rachel Maddow Show" on Friday that stood out for me.

Commenting on autocracies around the world that have consolidated power, Cummings noted that in none of these countries “do leaders do all the things that Trump is doing, take aim at all of these independent institutions, and then just walk away.” Rather, the professor added, authoritarians take these steps because they intend “to stay in power permanently.”

trump needs to stay in power and will try to stay in power anyway that he can

Collimator

(1,894 posts)
74. If Obama won't run. . .
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 10:29 PM
Apr 1

. . . Then I think AOC has a chance.

Despite the heartbreak of the last election, I'd like to believe that she could win. After all, she's a couple of shades lighter than Harris, so it could happen.


Note: Last remark is a joke. Not a funny one, or one that I believe in/approve of, but a bitter comment disguised in a quip.

Callie1979

(653 posts)
78. Any attempt at this would call for a process to stop his pulse.
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 03:30 PM
Saturday

Sorry but there's really NO other way to put a stop to this.

Brother Buzz

(38,308 posts)
79. The marmalade shartcannon will not make to any ballot, but he can raise a boatload of money
Sat Apr 19, 2025, 04:04 PM
Saturday

Cha-ching!

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