# Trump won't rule out 3rd term **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [March 31, 2025, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371 "2025-03-31T01:50:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/341 "2025-04-08T01:33:57Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > At this moment Texas Governor Greg Abbott is refusing to perform the legal duty of scheduling a special election in a House district centered in Houston on the grounds of nebulous “problems” with previous elections there. Actually, he’s scheduled that election now. > **[Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sets November special election for deep-blue House seat](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/texas-gov-greg-abbott-sets-november-special-election-open-house-seat-rcna200116)** > > Democrats had accused Abbott of delaying calling a special election for the seat after Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Texas, died in early March. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/342 "2025-04-08T19:08:09Z")
Hooray? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/343 "2025-04-08T19:19:57Z")
> [@Procacious](#): > > She said, “The Republicans and crazy, but the Democrats are preachy.” She then added reluctantly, “At least crazy doesn’t judge me.” When I was registered Republican, the opposite was true. Can’t tell you how many times I was told I was not really a Republican because I’m pro-choice. > [@Procacious](#): > > If you say one thing Republicans like they will welcome you into the party with open arms (because they want your vote). If you say one thing Democrats don’t like, they ask you to leave the party. The Dems I know would welcome me with open arms in a heartbeat. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/344 "2025-04-08T19:22:49Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > Yes because they already did. Trump, as an insurrectionist, should not have been eligible to run for the 2024 election and yet here we are. What was their excuse again? He was never convicted of insurrection, either by the Senate or by Federal prosecution. Some guy on the street calling him an insurrectionist is not sufficient to bar him from office. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/345 "2025-04-09T12:50:18Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > He was never convicted of insurrection, either by the Senate or by Federal prosecution. From a legal perspective, you’re absolutely right. That is why Trump was allowed to run, and it doesn’t mean the US is a lawless nation that has tossed all procedure out the window; in fact, it is precisely because we follow procedure that we can’t ban Trump from running. But… That’s mostly due to political reasons. Merrick Garland is a fucking coward. He wanted to appear politically unbiased and so he slow balled his investigation of Trump, to the point where he barely even started before Trump came back into office. [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/22/us/politics/trump-jan-6-merrick-garland.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/22/us/politics/trump-jan-6-merrick-garland.html) And Biden was an idiot for appointing Garland to do this. But… Can you really blame him? He sent a fucking snail after Trump, and the right screeched about political prosecutions anyways. He should have sent Gaillard instead of Garland. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gHCxdlZ7G18/hqdefault.jpg "ESCARGOT (REMI GAILLARD) 🐌") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHCxdlZ7G18) Biden’s DOJ dropped the ball here - fuck that, they shat the bed here. If you want to go over the False Slate of Electors plot in detail, I’m happy to go into it; anyone who understands the full scope of the plot should agree that Trump is factually guilty (even if they agree that, given the government’s failure to prosecute, the legally correct action to take IS to allow Trump to run). ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/346 "2025-04-27T23:49:52Z")
“Froth Reich”? ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/347 "2025-04-27T23:51:38Z")
They should have used the “aid and comfort” clause. I think calling people committing an insurrection “very special” an promising them pardons qualifies. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2025, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/348 "2025-07-10T13:15:34Z")
No one should worry about a 3rd term. His 2nd term just won’t end. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/349 "2025-07-11T10:02:20Z")
My beautiful Christians; just vote in this November election, and you’ll never have to vote again. Went it not so? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/350 "2025-07-11T17:18:14Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > As mentioned above, if the states don’t put him on the ballot, then he can’t reach 270. As mentioned before, he doesn’t have to be on any ballot. You don’t vote for president, you vote for electors and they are the ones who actually elect him. Now imagine the electors decided to vote for him anyway. Who is in a position to prevent it? SCOTUS will not act since it will decide it cannot constrain congress and congress won’t act, just because no one can make them. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2025, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/351 "2025-07-31T22:53:20Z")
Trump is attacking the Halting Ownership and Non-Ethical Stock Transactions (HONEST) Act, which would take effect at the beginning of the next presidential or vice-presidential term, on grounds that it is targeted at himself. The text of the proposed law is here:’ [Honest Act](https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/library/files/189492/) Trump’s screed against it is here: [Truth Social](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114944074791548865) > [@](#): > > I don’t think real Republicans want to see their President, who has had unprecedented success, TARGETED, because of the “whims” of a second-tier Senator named Josh Hawley! It is only targeted against Trump if one assumes he will be on the GOP ticket in November 2028. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/352 "2025-08-01T15:38:43Z")
The only thing that will keep Trump off the 2028 ballot is death. They are certain to find a way around the 22nd Amendment and SCOTUS will supinely accept it. Just like they currently are figuring out how to ignore the 14th. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/353 "2025-08-01T16:00:30Z")
It seems vastly more likely that a lame duck Trump is trying to keep Republican politicians in line by hinting at a 2028 run, rather than seriously planning another candidacy. If he looks to be crazy enough to try it, GOPers will have to choose between continuing to cower in fear vs. pursuing their own ambitions for power. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/354 "2025-08-01T16:32:50Z")
Never underestimate the ability of a politician to both cower and pursue power at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/355 "2025-08-01T16:37:36Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > The only thing that will keep Trump off the 2028 ballot is death. I think it would be easier to “delay” elections because of some fabricated national emergency then to get around the 22nd Amendment. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/356 "2025-08-01T19:09:35Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > It seems vastly more likely that a lame duck Trump is trying to keep Republican politicians in line by hinting at a 2028 run, rather than seriously planning another candidacy. If he looks to be crazy enough to try it, GOPers will have to choose between continuing to cower in fear vs. pursuing their own ambitions for power. One of the best predictors of future behavior is past behavior. Republicans have been cowering in fear versus pursuing their own ambitions for the better part of a decade now. Why would anyone expect them to change in 2028? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/357 "2025-08-01T23:10:03Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Republicans have been cowering in fear versus pursuing their own ambitions for the better part of a decade now. And they let pass their best chance to be rid of Trump as a future candidate in January 2021 when they could have have impeached and convicted with disqualification. But the Senators went to their states in the immediate aftermath of 1/6 and what they heard from their base was along the lines of “you’re toast if you touch Trump!” So cowering it was. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2025, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/358 "2025-08-02T17:35:49Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > The only thing that will keep Trump off the 2028 ballot is death. Totally disagree. > [@Procrustus](#): > > I think it would be easier to “delay” elections because of some fabricated national emergency then to get around the 22nd Amendment. This is a far more likely scenario. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2025, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/359 "2025-08-02T17:53:38Z")
But why would Trump need to come up with an emergency when he has already said that he is _owed_ a third term? Maybe if he gets a lot of pushback he’ll have to create a crisis that only he can solve but if he’s allowed to just assume a third term, he will. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2025, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371/360 "2025-08-02T20:37:47Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > But why would Trump need to come up with an emergency when he has already said that he is _owed_ a third term? Maybe if he gets a lot of pushback he’ll have to create a crisis that only he can solve but if he’s allowed to just assume a third term, he will. Nothing has ever stopped Trump from coming up with numerous, mutually incompatible and contradictory justifications for the things he does. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371.md?page=19)