Steve Bannon, ex-White House strategist, hinted at a Republican gala in New York City on Sunday, December 15, 2024, that Donald Trump might consider a third presidential run in 2028 despite constitutional limitations. Geraldo Rivera, a former friend of Trump’s, anticipates that this suggestion will spark intense debates about amending the Constitution.
Rivera, a correspondent-at-large for NewsNation and former Fox News figure, posted on X, “For future reference: President Trump & Co. will soon start chattering about revoking/amending the 22d Amendment, which limits presidents to two four-year terms.”
After a complicated relationship with Trump, Rivera made this prediction. He had a 50-year friendship with Trump during which he often defended the former president, but he publicly distanced himself from Trump due to his claims about the 2020 election, labeling him an “entitled frat boy” causing unnecessary uproar over his election defeat. Rivera left Fox News in June 2023, citing the network’s increasingly right-leaning coverage of Trump.
The 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution clearly specifies that “no person shall be elected to the office of President more than twice.” This restriction applies to both consecutive and non-consecutive terms, with no existing exceptions or interpretational leeway for a third term. Therefore, any attempt for a third term would be considered unconstitutional.
During the New York Young Republican Club Gala, Bannon suggested that Trump could bypass the 22nd Amendment if his terms were not consecutive. He advanced the “Trump ’28” concept at the Manhattan event.
Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) stated that Trump’s prior comments regarding prolonging his stay in the White House beyond 2028 “are not jokes” but “trial balloons.” Goldman further added, “They are very intentionally designed to soften the response and then to normalize his unconstitutional and anti-democratic goals.”
Late Night host Seth Meyers drew a parallel between the current situation and people who test boundaries under the pretense of humor, suggesting Republicans often make controversial statements as jokes, only to later reveal their serious intent. Their strategy is like someone casually proposing an outrageous idea to assess others’ reactions, subtly indicating they might be serious.
To amend the Constitution and eliminate the two-term limit, the process would necessitate approval from two-thirds of both the House and Senate, followed by endorsement from 38 state legislatures. Rivera pointed out in his social media post that Trump secured victory in 30 states in 2024, falling short of the required threshold for a constitutional amendment.
In the wake of escalating conversations about a potential third presidential term, Representative Goldman has proposed a resolution to reaffirm the restrictions of the 22nd Amendment. The resolution clarifies that the two-term limit applies cumulatively, regardless of whether the terms are served consecutively or with a gap in between. It further specifies that the amendment does not provide any interpretative wiggle room or loopholes allowing a president to serve a third term.
Mike Davis, a former aide to Trump, has publicly rejected the idea of a third term, dubbing it “crazy” and distancing himself from any suggestions of exploiting constitutional loopholes.
