Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) revealed he has talked to President Trump in regards to the constitutional limitations that may stop Trump from looking for a 3rd time period, and the Speaker mentioned he doesn’t “see the path” to getting him one other time period after 2028.
“It’s been a great run, but I think the president knows — and he and I’ve talked about the constrictions of the Constitution, as much as so many of the American people lament that,” Johnson mentioned in a press convention Tuesday.
“The Trump 2028 cap is one of the most popular that’s ever been produced,” Johnson added.
However Johnson pointed to the twenty second Modification of the Structure, which prevents any individual from being elected president greater than twice.
“I don’t see a way to amend the Constitution, because it takes about 10 years to do that, as you know, to allow all the states to ratify,” Johnson mentioned.
A constitutional modification wants help of two-thirds of the Home and Senate, after which ratification by three-fourths of the states.
“I don’t see the path for that,” Johnson mentioned.
The Motion: When does Trump 2028 turn out to be a severe push?
Trump has repeatedly mentioned he wish to serve a 3rd time period, and discuss of him doing so ramped up this week after former Trump adviser Steve Bannon informed The Economist that there’s “a plan” to make Trump president once more regardless of the constraints of the twenty second Modification, whereas declining to say what that plan is.
Trump on Air Power One early Monday mentioned he wouldn’t try one supposed loophole: working as vp, with the individual atop the ticket stepping down after successful, clearing the trail for Trump to take over. However he wouldn’t rule out looking for a 3rd time period — and mentioned he “would love to do it.”
Johnson mentioned he had spoken to Trump about an hour earlier than, because the president was in Japan.
Johnson mentioned Trump “has a good time with that, trolling the Democrats, whose hair is on fire about the very prospect” of him making an attempt to hunt a 3rd time period in 2028.
“But I do believe that we got three extraordinary years ahead of us,” Johnson added, saying Trump’s administration shall be an “incredible thing.”
Johnson has beforehand mentioned Trump — who as soon as requested the Speaker on stage if he could be allowed to hunt a 3rd time period — was joking a few third time period, and that he is aware of the constitutional limitations.
However Trump beforehand informed NBC he’s “not joking” a few third time period, and there are official efforts underway to help that bid.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) has proposed a constitutional modification that may permit Trump to hunt a 3rd time period. It was fastidiously worded to solely permit a president who has served two nonconsecutive phrases to hunt a 3rd one, thus stopping former Presidents Obama, George W. Bush and Clinton from mounting a return. However as Johnson famous, it’s politically inconceivable for that to be ratified by 2028.
Some outdoors Congress are pitching different strategies. The Third Time period Undertaking — an initiative spearheaded by Republicans for Nationwide Renewal, which describes itself as a nationalist and populist group — has talked about the thought of Trump working as vp, or perhaps a authorized problem in an try to get the Supreme Courtroom’s conservative justices to determine that the twenty second Modification permits the president to serve greater than two phrases so long as they’re nonconsecutive.
A excerpt from a forthcoming paper from the group, first shared with The Hill, goals to construct political help for such a push. It argues the extent of consequence former President Franklin D. Roosevelt achieved “would have been all but impossible” had he served solely two phrases. Congress permitted the twenty second Modification in 1947, two years after Roosevelt’s demise halfway by way of his fourth time period.
“Should America be blessed with a truly noble and exceptional leader who goes on to occupy the Oval Office, would it be wiser to allow him a flexible timeline with which to serve this nation to the fullest extent of his capabilities?” the group says.
