Senator John Curtis, a Utah Republican, laughed off the idea of supporting a third term for President Donald Trump during an interview appearance on Sunday.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email on Sunday.
Why It Matters
Trump and his allies have repeatedly teased the idea of him seeking a third term, despite most legal analysts agreeing that this would violate the U.S. Constitution as all U.S. presidents are limited to two terms in office, with Trump now in his second and final term.
Calls for Trump to be allowed to run for a third term follow warnings issued by Democrats during the 2024 campaign that he would rule as an authoritarian once back in the White House. Nonetheless, former Trump administration official Steve Bannon, who hosts a popular right-wing podcast, suggested in an interview with NewsNation last week that it’s a real option on the table.
What To Know
Curtis appeared on NBC News’ Meet the Press hosted by Kristen Welker on Sunday. The journalist pointed to Bannon’s recent comments, asking the senator, “Is there any scenario where you would support a third term for President Trump, which is not legal under the Constitution?”
Curtis quickly dismissed the possibility.
“I wouldn’t have supported a third term for George Washington,” he responded, laughing. “That’s a no, yeah,” he added, still chuckling at the suggestion.
Washington was the first U.S. president, who famously stepped aside after two terms, despite some supporters urging him to run for a third. This set a precedent, which was followed by most presidents until the U.S. Constitution was changed via the 22nd Amendment in 1951.
The 22nd Amendment reads: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, 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 once.”
Some have suggested unconventional paths for Trump to get around the Constitution, as repeal of the amendment is believed to be all but impossible given current political dynamics. One idea floated by some is for Trump to be the vice-presidential nominee, and then whoever serves as president could step aside after winning.
However, legal analysts believe even this would be constitutionally tenuous and would likely be blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court. Others have warned that Trump could just ignore the Constitution and simply remain in office, with no clear way to force him out.
Trump, in an April 2024 interview with Time magazine, said he would not be in favor of changing the 22nd Amendment.
“I wouldn’t be in favor of it at all. 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,” he said.
Screenshot/NBC News/Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
What People Are Saying
Steve Bannon to NewsNation last week: “I’m a firm believer that President Trump will run and win again in 2028, so I’ve already endorsed President Trump. A man like this comes along once every century, if we’re lucky. We’ve got him now.”
Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Newsweek on Thursday: “Aside from the potential vice president loophole, there is no legal path for Trump to run for a third term. Politically, he doesn’t have the votes to repeal the 22nd Amendment, either in Congress or the states.”
Representative Dan Goldman, a New York Democrat, previously told Newsweek in a January statement: “By now, Donald Trump’s pattern is predictable: ‘joke’ about something unconstitutional or authoritarian; normalize the ‘joke’; allow sycophantic Republicans to adopt the ‘joke’ as a serious idea until it becomes MAGA orthodoxy.”
What Happens Next?
Trump and his allies are expected to continue to float the idea of another term. While it’s unclear what extraordinary actions the president could possibly take to make the idea a reality, most legal analysts believe there is no constitutionally viable pathway.