Trump "President Three or Four Times"... Revealing Ambition for Third Term Disguised as a Joke

Trump's Third Term Constitutional Amendment Proposal by Republican Lawmaker

Amid the submission of a constitutional amendment resolution to the U.S. House of Representatives allowing Donald Trump to serve a third term as president, President Trump has expressed his desire for a third term.

On the 25th (local time), at a rally held in Las Vegas, Nevada, President Trump said, "Serving as president would be the greatest honor of my life. Not once, but twice, or three times, or even four times," eliciting cheers from the crowd. However, he later backtracked, calling it a "headline for fake news" and said, "It will be twice."

President Trump expressed his desire for a third term. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

Article 22 of the U.S. Constitution stipulates that "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice." The 22nd Amendment was proposed in 1947 and ratified in 1951. Except for the exceptional four-term presidency of Franklin Roosevelt, no president in U.S. history has served more than two terms. Trump was elected in 2016 and served a four-year term, and was re-elected last year, recently beginning his second term. According to this provision, Trump can no longer be elected president.

However, recently, Representative Andy Ogles (Tennessee, Republican) introduced a resolution to amend the Constitution to allow not only President Trump but also future U.S. presidents to be elected for a third term. Representative Ogles stated, "Trump has proven to be the only person who can reverse our decline and restore America's greatness," adding, "He needs enough time to achieve that goal." He also expressed, "We must provide President Trump with all the resources necessary to correct the disastrous course set by the Biden administration."

President Trump and his close associates have already hinted several times at a third term. Shortly after winning the presidential election in November last year, Trump told House Republican members, "You all say he (Trump) is doing so well. Unless you say 'find a way' (for a third term), I probably won't run again." This is interpreted as his willingness to run for president again if the House finds a way to allow a third term.

On the other hand, the Democratic Party is working to firmly prohibit a third term. Representative Dan Goldman (New York, Democrat) introduced a constitutional amendment last November to clarify the prohibition of a third term. This was a measure to prevent potential loopholes in interpreting the existing Constitution.