News Brief
Arjun Brij
Mar 31, 2025, 05:14 PM | Updated 05:14 PM IST
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US President Donald Trump has ignited fresh controversy by suggesting he may seek a third term in office, despite the constitutional barriers that prohibit such a move, ANI reported.
His remarks, made in a phone interview with NBC News, have sparked fierce debate, with critics accusing him of attempting to undermine democratic norms.
"There are methods which you could do it," Trump stated, raising concerns over his willingness to challenge the 22nd Amendment, which explicitly restricts US presidents to two terms.
When pressed on the issue, he insisted, "I'm not joking," though he conceded, "It is far too early to think about it."
The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, was introduced after Franklin D Roosevelt served an unprecedented four terms, ensuring that no future president could extend their rule indefinitely.
Legal experts have dismissed Trump’s claim, with constitutional law professor Jeremy Paul asserting, "There are no credible legal arguments for him to run for a third term."
Criticism has been swift. Democratic Representative Daniel Goldman denounced the suggestion as an "escalation in his clear effort to take over the government and dismantle our democracy."
He urged Republicans to publicly oppose any such ambition, stating, "If Congressional Republicans believe in the Constitution, they will go on the record opposing Trump's ambitions for a third term."
Meanwhile, Trump’s allies have embraced the idea.
Steve Bannon, his former strategist, rallied support at the Conservative Political Action Conference, declaring, "We want Trump in '28."
However, legal scholars like Derek Muller of Notre Dame dismissed any loopholes, stating, "I don't think there's any 'one weird trick' to getting around presidential term limits."
At 82 by the end of a potential second term, Trump simply remarked, "Well, I like working," leaving the door open for speculation.
However, given the constitutional roadblocks, judicial oversight, and public resistance, a third term remains highly improbable.
Arjun Brij is an Editorial Associate at Swarajya. He tweets at @arjun_brij