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U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House on February 25, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
(Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Trump's Threat of Third Term No Laughing Matter, Says Democracy Watchdog
"It's a test to see how far he can go in his quest for unchecked power," said Stand Up America executive director Christina Harvey.
Feb 27, 2025
Between U.S. President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration, to his administration's targeting of federal workers, and the White House's attacks on the media, a casual news reader may have missed that Trump has mused on multiple occasions about running for a third term.
But the democracy watchdog group Stand Up America said Thursday that Trump's recent remarks about remaining in office are worth paying attention to.
This "isn't a joke or a slip of the tongue. It's a test to see how far he can go in his quest for unchecked power," said Stand Up America executive director Christina Harvey in a statement.
Trump has made cryptic comments about a third term in office, something the U.S. Constitution does not allow, on multiple occasions.
While speaking with House Republicans on November 13, Trump said: "I suspect I won't be running again unless you say, 'He's so good we've got to figure something else out.'"
"Am I allowed to run again?" Trump asked in late January at House Republicans' annual issues retreat at Trump National Doral, Trump's golf club and resort outside Miami. "[Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.)], I better not get you involved in that."
Harvey's statement comes on the 74th anniversary of the ratification of the 22nd Amendment, which limits a person to being elected only twice to the presidency.
"Today would be a good day for every elected official to reaffirm the oath they took to defend our Constitution, including the 22nd Amendment," Harvey said.
Shortly after Trump was inaugurated, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) introduced a resolution on January 23 seeking to amend the Constitution so that Trump could serve a third term.
An Unconstitutional Rampage
Trump and Musk are on an unconstitutional rampage, aiming for virtually every corner of the federal government. These two right-wing billionaires are targeting nurses, scientists, teachers, daycare providers, judges, veterans, air traffic controllers, and nuclear safety inspectors. No one is safe. The food stamps program, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are next. It’s an unprecedented disaster and a five-alarm fire, but there will be a reckoning. The people did not vote for this. The American people do not want this dystopian hellscape that hides behind claims of “efficiency.” Still, in reality, it is all a giveaway to corporate interests and the libertarian dreams of far-right oligarchs like Musk. Common Dreams is playing a vital role by reporting day and night on this orgy of corruption and greed, as well as what everyday people can do to organize and fight back. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover issues the corporate media never will, but we can only continue with our readers’ support. |
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Between U.S. President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration, to his administration's targeting of federal workers, and the White House's attacks on the media, a casual news reader may have missed that Trump has mused on multiple occasions about running for a third term.
But the democracy watchdog group Stand Up America said Thursday that Trump's recent remarks about remaining in office are worth paying attention to.
This "isn't a joke or a slip of the tongue. It's a test to see how far he can go in his quest for unchecked power," said Stand Up America executive director Christina Harvey in a statement.
Trump has made cryptic comments about a third term in office, something the U.S. Constitution does not allow, on multiple occasions.
While speaking with House Republicans on November 13, Trump said: "I suspect I won't be running again unless you say, 'He's so good we've got to figure something else out.'"
"Am I allowed to run again?" Trump asked in late January at House Republicans' annual issues retreat at Trump National Doral, Trump's golf club and resort outside Miami. "[Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.)], I better not get you involved in that."
Harvey's statement comes on the 74th anniversary of the ratification of the 22nd Amendment, which limits a person to being elected only twice to the presidency.
"Today would be a good day for every elected official to reaffirm the oath they took to defend our Constitution, including the 22nd Amendment," Harvey said.
Shortly after Trump was inaugurated, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) introduced a resolution on January 23 seeking to amend the Constitution so that Trump could serve a third term.
Between U.S. President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration, to his administration's targeting of federal workers, and the White House's attacks on the media, a casual news reader may have missed that Trump has mused on multiple occasions about running for a third term.
But the democracy watchdog group Stand Up America said Thursday that Trump's recent remarks about remaining in office are worth paying attention to.
This "isn't a joke or a slip of the tongue. It's a test to see how far he can go in his quest for unchecked power," said Stand Up America executive director Christina Harvey in a statement.
Trump has made cryptic comments about a third term in office, something the U.S. Constitution does not allow, on multiple occasions.
While speaking with House Republicans on November 13, Trump said: "I suspect I won't be running again unless you say, 'He's so good we've got to figure something else out.'"
"Am I allowed to run again?" Trump asked in late January at House Republicans' annual issues retreat at Trump National Doral, Trump's golf club and resort outside Miami. "[Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.)], I better not get you involved in that."
Harvey's statement comes on the 74th anniversary of the ratification of the 22nd Amendment, which limits a person to being elected only twice to the presidency.
"Today would be a good day for every elected official to reaffirm the oath they took to defend our Constitution, including the 22nd Amendment," Harvey said.
Shortly after Trump was inaugurated, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) introduced a resolution on January 23 seeking to amend the Constitution so that Trump could serve a third term.
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