A Republican representative from Tennessee, Andy Ogles, proposed a resolution to modify the U.S. Constitution, permitting President Donald Trump and future presidents to serve a third term. This initiative was introduced shortly after Trump began his second, non-consecutive term in office. The current 22nd Amendment limits presidents to two terms.
Summary: Rep. Andy Ogles has proposed changing the Constitution to allow presidents, including Trump, to serve three terms, following Trump’s second term in office. The 22nd Amendment currently restricts presidents to two terms.
A Republican representative from the House put forward a proposal on Thursday to change the U.S. Constitution, allowing President Donald Trump — as well as any future president — the possibility to serve a third term in office.
Rep. Andy Ogles from Tennessee, who introduced the idea, argued that Trump “has shown himself to be the sole leader in modern times able to reverse the nation’s decline and bring America back to greatness, and he should be granted the time needed to achieve that goal.” He proposed lifting the current two-term limit for presidents.
Ogles emphasized in a statement, “It is crucial that we give President Trump all the resources needed to fix the harmful direction the Biden administration has taken.”
“He is committed to restoring our republic and safeguarding our nation, and we, as lawmakers and as states, must do everything we can to support him,” added Ogles, a staunch conservative currently in his second term in the House.
The resolution follows a move made two months ago by Rep. Dan Goldman, a Democrat from New York, who introduced a measure in the House to “reaffirm that the Twenty-second Amendment limits a president to two terms in total,” specifying that this restriction applies to the 78-year-old Trump.
- 22nd Amendment: It states that “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
- Ogles’ Proposed Change: Rep. Andy Ogles has introduced a resolution aiming to revise the amendment. His version would read, “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times…”
- Additional Clause: The original amendment also adds that anyone who has held the presidency for more than two years of someone else’s term cannot be elected for more than one additional term.
- Ogles’ Statement: In his announcement, Ogles emphasized that his proposal would allow President Trump to serve three terms, claiming that this is necessary for maintaining the “bold leadership” the country needs.
- Historical Context: The 22nd Amendment, passed in 1947 and ratified in 1951, was a response to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four-term presidency. Roosevelt remains the only president to have served more than two terms, dying just months after his fourth inauguration.
- Current Political Climate: Republicans hold a slim majority in the House, and it’s unlikely that many Democrats would support Ogles’ resolution, especially with Trump in office.
- Trump’s Position: Trump has consistently hinted throughout his political career that he’d be open to serving more than two terms.
Summary: Rep. Andy Ogles wants to amend the 22nd Amendment to let presidents, including Trump, serve three terms. While this is largely in response to Trump’s leadership, it also reflects a broader historical shift after Roosevelt’s unprecedented four-term presidency. However, with a slim GOP majority in the House, and little Democrat support, this proposal faces an uphill battle. Trump himself has previously indicated his openness to serving beyond the two-term limit.
