Steve Bannon, ex-White House strategist, hinted during a New York Republican gala held on December 15, 2024 that Donald Trump could possibly attempt a run for a third presidential term in 2028, despite constitutional constraints. Concurrently, Geraldo Rivera, former friend of Trump, anticipates escalating discussions concerning amending the Constitution.
A former Fox News personality and current correspondent-at-large for NewsNation, Rivera indicated on his X account: “For future reference: President Trump & Co. will soon start talking about revoking/amending the 22d Amendment, which limits presidents to two four-year terms.”
This prediction follows Rivera’s complex relationship with Trump. After defending the former president throughout their 50-year friendship, Rivera publicly criticized Trump’s 2020 election claims, labeling him an “entitled frat boy” who was causing unnecessary trouble over his election defeat. Rivera left Fox News in June 2023, attributing his departure to the channel’s shift to the right in covering Trump.
It’s worth noting that the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution clearly specifies that “no person shall be elected to the office of President more than twice.” Legal experts and constitutional scholars interpret this limitation as applying to both consecutive and non-consecutive terms, leaving no room for a third term. Any such attempt would be unconstitutional.
While speaking at the New York Young Republican Club Gala, Bannon suggested that Trump could bypass the 22nd Amendment because his terms wouldn’t be consecutive. He also promoted the notion of “Trump ’28” at the event in Manhattan.
Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) observed that Trump’s earlier remarks about prolonging his stay in the White House beyond 2028 “are not jokes” but are “trial balloons.” Goldman stated, “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 comparison to the practice of testing boundaries under the cover of humor, suggesting that Republicans often make controversial statements disguised as jokes, only to reveal their seriousness later. He likened their strategy to casually proposing a radical idea to gauge the reactions of others.
Amending the Constitution to abolish the two-term limit would necessitate approval from two-thirds of both the House and Senate, followed by ratification from 38 state legislatures. Rivera pointed out in his social media post that Trump only won 30 states in 2024, falling short of the required threshold for a constitutional amendment.
In reaction to the growing discussions about a potential third presidential term, Representative Goldman introduced a resolution to reaffirm the restrictions imposed by the 22nd Amendment. The resolution highlights that the two-term limit applies cumulatively, irrespective of whether the terms are served consecutively or with a break. It further underscores that the amendment provides no room for interpretation or loopholes that could allow a president to serve a third term.
Former Trump aide Mike Davis has publicly denounced the idea of a third term, calling it “crazy” and distancing himself from suggestions of exploiting constitutional loopholes.
