Democrats say if Trump can, then Obama too can be the president for the third time.
After Donald Trump Sunday claimed that he could serve for a third term and there are many ways to do it, the Democrats put forward the idea of Barack Obama doing the same thing to become the president for the third time. Trump expressed his desire to not leave the president’s chair several times before but this time it became serious as he specifically mentioned, ‘I am not joking’ in his interview with NBC News where he tinkered with the idea of him contesting again in 2028.
“A lot of people want me to do it. But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, it’s very early in the administration. I’m focused on the current,” he said.
The 22nd Amendment of the Constitution prohibits anyone to be elected to the office of the President more than twice. Under the amendment, someone who fills an unexpired presidential term lasting more than two years is also prohibited from being elected president more than once.
‘There are methods…’
On being asked as to how he could bend the 22nd Amendment to contest for the president for another term, he said there are methods. A possible scenario was given to him that if Vice President JD Vance would run for the office and then pass the role to Trump — a possibility many have been speculating since Trump is intent on not leaving his chair.
Trump said ‘that’s one’ method but there are others too.
Trump’s ally Steve Bannon earlier said he believed Trump will run and win again in 2028. Bannon said there are a couple of alternatives in determining how Trump could seek a third term.
“Note to Steve Bannon: If Trump can ignore term limits and run again in 2028, Obama can ignore term limits and run again in 2028,” one post said.
“Trump should really stop talking about running for a third term unless he wants to get absolutely humiliated by President Obama in a presidential race,” another wrote.
Obama served two consecutive terms as the president from 2009 to 2017. Donald Trump is serving his second term, non-consecutive, his first term being from 2017 to 2021. Obama will be 67 in 2028 and Trump 82.