Trump, Already Mentioned Running for a Third Term... "Roosevelt Also Served Four Terms" [AK Radio]

Mentioning Ways to Bypass the Three-Term Limit
Concerns Over Resumption of Trials After Term Ends

U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at a bid for a third term just over two months after taking office, sparking controversy in American political circles. President Trump expressed confidence, stating that "there is a way to serve a third term," suggesting he could circumvent the presidential term limits set by the U.S. Constitution.

Under the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, a president is prohibited from serving a third term. President Trump already served one term after winning the 2016 election, then lost to President Joe Biden and stepped down, only to be re-elected in the November 2024 election. According to the 22nd Amendment, his term ends on January 20, 2029, and he cannot run for president again thereafter.

However, President Trump mentioned that he has his own method to bypass constitutional restrictions. One scenario he mentioned involves current Vice President JD Vance running in the 2028 election, winning, and then transferring the presidency to Trump. Legal scholars in the U.S. have expressed concern that this statement should not be taken lightly. The scenario is that Vice President Vance would run as a presidential candidate, select Trump as his running mate, and upon winning, resign, allowing Trump, as vice president, to assume the presidency for the remainder of the term.

This strategy is similar to the one employed by Russian President Vladimir Putin to circumvent the three-term limit. When Putin was barred from running in the 2008 election due to Russia's constitutional three-term limit, he installed his close ally Dmitry Medvedev as president and served as prime minister, then returned to the presidency after winning the 2012 election.

EPA·Yonhap News

Some raise concerns that the ambiguous wording of the U.S. 22nd Amendment could provide a loophole for Trump's third-term attempt. The amendment states that "no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice," and also specifies that "a person who has served more than two years of a term to which someone else was elected can only be elected once." The issue is that this clause applies only to elected presidents. Trump has served two elected terms but has never served as acting president. This loophole could allow a scenario where Vance resigns after being elected, and Trump assumes the presidency.

However, the 12th Amendment states that "no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice President," leading to arguments that Trump's candidacy for vice president itself would be unconstitutional. Various legal battles are expected depending on interpretations of these constitutional provisions.

There have also been proposals to amend the 22nd Amendment itself. For example, Republican Congressman Andy Ogles, known as a Trump loyalist, submitted a constitutional amendment proposal in January this year to remove the ban on a third term. However, amending this provision requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress, followed by ratification by three-fourths (38) of the 50 state legislatures within seven years. The 22nd Amendment was designed to be very difficult to amend, making it practically impossible to complete within a single four-year presidential term. Thus, Ogles' proposal has been viewed largely as a symbolic gesture.

The case of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the only U.S. president to serve more than three terms and successfully win a fourth term, is also noteworthy. Roosevelt served four terms during the unique circumstances of the Great Depression and World War II. President Trump has cited Roosevelt's four terms as evidence that his own third term is possible.

President Franklin Roosevelt. Photo by Getty Images

However, the 22nd Amendment did not exist during Roosevelt's presidency, and there was an unwritten rule based on the precedent set by the first president, George Washington, who declined a third term and retired. Most presidents adhered to serving only two terms. After Roosevelt's long tenure, concerns about the potential for dictatorship in a democracy grew, leading Congress to enact the 22nd Amendment in March 1947 to limit presidential terms.

Various interpretations have emerged regarding President Trump's intention in hinting at a third term. Some worry he desires lifelong rule similar to Putin. Another analysis suggests it is a strategy to avoid numerous legal issues he would face after leaving office. Currently, Trump enjoys presidential immunity, which has paused several lawsuits, but once he becomes a private citizen, all trials could resume. There are analyses that he could face bankruptcy due to fraud charges and other legal troubles.

However, as a symbol of democracy, the emergence of a third-term or lifelong ruler in the U.S. would likely provoke strong resistance among American citizens. The so-called "third-term loophole" that would overturn the U.S. constitutional tradition is expected to be difficult to realize. President Trump's remarks hinting at a third term are seen as a reflection of how American politics is currently dominated by Trump and the Republican Party. Attention is increasingly focused on his future moves and the direction of U.S. politics.