4 extra years.
That’s what Donald Trump supporters might quickly be chanting now that the president is already speaking about in search of a 3rd time period, regardless of precedent and legislation.
It could be nothing greater than Trump baiting reporters or a joke to make Democrats crazier than they already are, however with Trump you by no means know.
He has solely been in workplace for 4 months in his second interrupted presidency. It simply looks as if 4 years. The whole lot appears to be turned the wrong way up and folks, outdoors of the Democrats, find it irresistible.
However plainly the 2028 marketing campaign for president has already begun —or the final one by no means ended. Democratic contenders are already crossing the nation holding political occasions and attacking Trump as if the subsequent election was subsequent month.
But the truth that the twenty second Modification to the U.S. Structure limits a president to 2 phrases doesn’t appear to faze Trump. He would run once more if he may.
The modification was handed by Congress two years after the April 12, 1945, dying of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was ratified by the states in 1951. Roosevelt was the one president to serve greater than two phrases.
Roosevelt, who guided the nation throughout World Warfare II, though sick, had simply been elected to a fourth time period 4 years after he was elected to an unprecedented third time period. Roosevelt was 63 when he died.
Trump is an brisk 78 years outdated.
“Lots of people need me to do it,” Trump informed NBC Information over the weekend. And regardless of the constitutional barrier, Trump mentioned, “There are strategies which you possibly can do it.”
Reporter Kristen Welker urged that one technique could be to run for vp in 2028 on a ticket headed by Vice President JD Vance. Vance would then swap roles with Trump and make Trump president once more.
“Nicely, that’s one,” Trump mentioned. “However there are others.”
I’m considering that Trump might have had one too many late night time telephone calls together with his on-again, off-again buddy Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Russian President Putin, an outdated KGB fox, may need put the thought in his head.
Putin may need mentioned one thing like, “Tovarich, hearken to me. I’m an outdated hand at this form of factor. I used to be educated in deviousness. I not solely climbed to the highest, however I’ve additionally stayed there and can proceed to remain there. I’m Making Russia Nice Once more. You are able to do the identical.”
In any case, the plan labored for Putin. That was again in 2008 when Putin, underneath Russian legislation on the time, couldn’t run for a 3rd time period as president. So, he supported his pal Dmitry Medvedev who was elected.
Medvedev then appointed Putin prime minister, till Putin was re-elected in 2012. He in flip made Medvedev his prime minister.
It was the Russian Communist Get together model of DEI — Variety, Fairness and Inclusion.
It labored so properly that Putin has not solely been in cost ever since however signed a legislation paving the way in which for him to retain the presidency till 2036.
This isn’t to say that Trump is planning on the “Putinization” of American politics and governance, however the thought of a 3rd time period is on the market.
If nothing else, Trump’s third-term musings will give Democrats one thing to speak about relatively than doubling down on the loopy and shedding points that led them to catastrophe within the final election.
However earlier than it may possibly occur, although, search for loony left wing activists to take all of it severely and file swimsuit towards Trump earlier than some Obama-era federal district courtroom decide jumps to cease Trump from working once more.
For those who can’t take a joke your head will explode.
Then once more, what if it’s not a joke?
Veteran political reporter Peter Lucas may be reached at: peter.lucas@bostonherald.com
