Rep. Andy Ogles, a Republican from Tennessee, has introduced a resolution to amend the U.S. Constitution, aiming to allow former President Donald Trump a third term in office. This bold push to alter the 22nd Amendment comes less than a week into Mr. Trump’s second stint in the White House. While the proposal faces significant political challenges, it highlights the unwavering support some Republicans have for Mr. Trump.
Currently, the 22nd Amendment limits presidents to two terms, stating, “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” It also restricts eligibility for a third term if a person has served more than two years of another president’s term. However, Rep. Ogles believes Mr. Trump deserves an exception.
“He has proven himself to be the only figure in modern history capable of reversing our nation’s decay and restoring America to greatness. He must be given the time necessary to accomplish that goal,” Ogles stated in defense of his resolution. The proposal, however, would not grant the same opportunity to other former presidents like Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, or Barack Obama. This is because the resolution specifies that only individuals who did not serve two consecutive terms could qualify for a third term.
Amending the U.S. Constitution is a monumental challenge. A resolution like Ogles’ requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. After clearing Congress, it must then be ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures. Given the current political landscape, the proposal faces an uphill battle.
Democrats are highly unlikely to support such a move. In fact, Rep. Dan Goldman, a Democrat from New York, introduced a measure last year to reinforce that Mr. Trump cannot serve a third term. The partisan divide on this issue presents a major obstacle to its success.
The 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951 in response to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s unprecedented four terms as president. FDR was the only U.S. president to serve more than two terms, and his tenure ended shortly after his fourth inauguration in 1945. The amendment was designed to prevent future presidents from holding extended power.
Since then, no president has served more than the constitutionally allowed two terms. Mr. Trump has previously joked about serving a third term, once telling House Republicans in a closed-door meeting, “I suspect I won’t be running again, unless you say, ‘He’s so good we’ve got to figure something else out.’”
The process of amending the Constitution is rare and time-consuming. The last successful amendment, the 27th Amendment, was ratified in 1992. It ensures that any changes to congressional salaries take effect only after an election.
As Rep. Ogles pushes forward with his proposal, it remains to be seen how Republican leadership and the broader political community will respond. While the resolution may lack realistic chances of passage, it demonstrates the enduring loyalty of Trump’s base and their desire to see him remain a dominant figure in American politics.
Rep. Andy Ogles’ proposal to allow Donald Trump a third term spotlights ongoing debates about presidential term limits and the influence of Trumpism in the Republican Party. Although the resolution faces slim odds, it underscores the enduring impact of Mr. Trump’s presidency on the nation’s political landscape.
