President Donald Trump has been floating the idea of serving a third term in office, despite the constitutional limit of two terms for a president. However, according to a Harvard Law professor, the chances of Trump actually achieving a third term are slim to none.
In an interview with CNN, Harvard Law professor Laurence Tribe explained that the 22nd Amendment, which was ratified in 1951, clearly states that no person shall be elected to the office of President more than twice. This amendment was put in place to prevent any one individual from holding onto power for an extended period of time, in order to protect democracy and prevent the rise of authoritarianism.
Tribe went on to say that even if Trump were to somehow get the support of Congress to repeal the 22nd Amendment, it would be an incredibly difficult and unlikely process. The amendment would require a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as ratification by three-fourths of the states. With the current political climate and divided government, it is highly unlikely that such a monumental change would ever happen.
Furthermore, Tribe pointed out that even if Trump were to find a way to bypass the 22nd Amendment, there would likely be massive public outcry and legal challenges. The American people have a strong tradition of upholding the principles of democracy and the rule of law, and any attempt to circumvent the Constitution would be met with fierce opposition.
In conclusion, while President Trump may be entertaining the idea of serving a third term in office, the reality is that the odds of it actually happening are extremely low. The 22nd Amendment and the widespread support for democratic norms and principles make it highly unlikely that Trump would be able to extend his time in office beyond two terms. As Tribe succinctly put it, “It’s not going to happen.”