A Republican congressman has introduced a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that could pave the way for former President Donald Trump to potentially serve a third term in the White House.
Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN) announced the amendment, stating it would allow a two-term president to serve a third term if the terms were non-consecutive.
Ogles argued the change is necessary to ensure the country can benefit from what he called “bold leadership” during times of crisis.
“President Trump’s decisive leadership stands in stark contrast to the chaos, suffering, and economic decline Americans have endured over the past four years,” Ogles said in a statement on Thursday.
“He has proven himself to be the only figure in modern history capable of reversing our nation’s decay and restoring America to greatness, and he must be given the time necessary to accomplish that goal.”
The proposed amendment reads:
“No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times, nor be elected to any additional term after being elected to two consecutive terms, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
The amendment would create a legal framework to allow a president to serve a third term under certain conditions.
If passed, it would add to the historical precedent of non-consecutive presidencies, a distinction currently held only by President Grover Cleveland, who served as both the 22nd and 24th President of the United States.
The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, currently limits presidents to two terms.
This was established after Franklin Delano Roosevelt served an unprecedented four terms, setting a new precedent for presidential term limits.
While the proposed amendment aligns with Rep. Ogles’ vision for Trump’s leadership, Trump himself has often joked about the idea of a third term.
His remarks, frequently made in jest, have nonetheless drawn strong reactions from his critics.
One of Trump’s notable posts on his Truth Social platform included a meme depicting campaign signs for “Trump 2024, Trump 2028, Trump 2032,” eventually expanding into far-off centuries.
The post was widely circulated and sparked debate across political circles.
Following his victory in the 2024 election, Trump joked during a meeting with Republican lawmakers about the prospect of another term. “I suspect I won’t be running again, unless you do something,” he said. “Unless you say, ‘He’s so good, we have to just figure it out.’”
Republican lawmakers who attended the meeting clarified that the comments were made in jest.
“That was a joke. It was clearly a joke,” said Rep. Tim Burchett (R-OK). Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) reportedly echoed the sentiment, predicting media outlets would mischaracterize the president’s comments as serious.
Despite the proposed amendment and his occasional jokes, Trump has stated that he does not plan to pursue a third term.
“I wouldn’t be in favor of a challenge. Not for me. I wouldn’t be in favor of it at all,” Trump told Time magazine in a prior interview.
“I intend to serve four years and do a great job. And I want to bring our country back. I want to put it back on the right track.”
While the amendment faces significant legal and political hurdles, it underscores the continued influence of Trump’s presidency and the strong support he maintains among Republican lawmakers and voters.
