On Thursday, January 23, a resolution was introduced by a congressman from Tennessee that would amend the U.S. Constitution, allowing President Donald Trump to serve a third term. At the same time, separate legislation was being pushed forward to authorize Trump’s purchase of Greenland.
The constitutional amendment was proposed by Representative Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), which would allow presidents to serve up to three terms. However, it restricts them to not more than two consecutive four-year terms. The objective of this resolution is to revise the 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, that limits presidential terms to two.
Ogles, in a statement to the press, mentioned that in recent history, Trump is the only figure capable of halting the nation’s decline and restoring America’s greatness, thus needing the required time to accomplish this goal.
The resolution put forward by Ogles stipulates that “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times, nor be elected to any additional term after being elected to two consecutive terms.” It continues to uphold limitations on those who have served more than two years of another president’s term.
The 22nd Amendment was initially brought into effect by Congress in 1947 after Franklin Delano Roosevelt served an unprecedented four terms. Roosevelt passed away shortly after being elected to his fourth term in the 1944 election.
The proposed amendment has significant challenges ahead, as it requires two-thirds approval from both the House and Senate, followed by ratification from three-fourths of the state legislatures. Given that Republicans currently hold a slim majority in the House and fall short of a two-thirds majority in the Senate, the resolution’s prospects appear limited.
Previously, Trump had expressed interest in a third term during a private speech to House Republicans last year, although sources at the event informed Fox News Digital that the then-president-elect was joking.
In the week following his 2024 presidential election victory, Trump stated that he couldn’t run for a third term unless his supporters took action. He hinted that he would only contemplate a future campaign if people insisted, “He’s so good, we have to just figure it out.”
Earlier this month, Ogles also presented the “Make Greenland Great Again Act,” which would authorize Trump to negotiate with Denmark regarding the acquisition of Greenland. “Joe Biden took a blowtorch to our reputation these past four years, and before even taking office, President Trump is telling the world that America First is back. American economic and security interests will no longer take a backseat, and House Republicans are ready to help President Trump deliver for the American people,” Ogles told Fox News Digital.
Trump’s desire to purchase Greenland is prompted by its strategic significance for U.S. security and its natural resource wealth, especially rare earth metals. However, both the Greenlandic and Danish governments have unequivocally declined the proposed sale.
The amendment proposal has been criticized by Democrats. A member of the House Judiciary Committee described it as “truly pathetic” and stated, “two terms is enough chaos for any nation to endure.”
The resolution has split opinions among Trump supporters as well. Some would rather see term limits imposed on Congress, while others note that the amendment could potentially allow other former presidents to serve a third term.
