Mike Johnson's position on Donald Trump's potential bid for a third presidential term creates tension within the Republican party leadership.
According to Daily Mail, House Speaker Mike Johnson dealt a significant blow to Trump's aspirations for a third term by emphasizing that such a move would require amending the Constitution.
The House Speaker, who is also a Constitutional lawyer, addressed the increasing speculation about Trump's future political ambitions during recent interviews. Johnson's comments came after Trump expressed openness to serving more than eight years during his appearance on Meet the Press.
The 22nd Amendment presents a clear obstacle to Trump's potential third-term aspirations. Johnson explained that while there exists a Constitutional path, it would require a complex amendment process with an exceptionally high threshold for approval.
Rep. Andy Ogles, a Tennessee Republican, has already initiated efforts to modify the 22nd Amendment. His proposed amendment would specifically allow Trump to run for a third term while maintaining restrictions on other former two-term presidents like Obama, Bush, and Clinton.
The amendment process would require support from two-thirds of the House and Senate and ratification from three-fourths of state legislatures. Given the current political climate and near-equal division between Republicans and Democrats, such an amendment faces significant challenges.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the mounting media attention surrounding Trump's comments. During a press briefing, she attempted to downplay the situation and criticized reporters' reactions.
Leavitt offered the following perspective on the ongoing discussion:
You guys continue to ask the president this question about a third term and then he answers honestly and candidly with a smile and then everybody here melts down about his answer.
The press secretary emphasized that Americans' interest in a potential third term stems from their satisfaction with Trump's current performance. She highlighted the administration's achievements within its first 60 days.
The conversation about presidential term limits has intensified following Trump's recent statements on Meet the Press. During the interview, Trump acknowledged public support for extending his presidency beyond two terms.
Trump's response to questions about a third term showed both awareness and ambiguity:
I don't want to talk about a third term now because no matter how you look at it, you've got a long time to go. But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, it's very early in the administration. I'm focused on the current.
These discussions have sparked concerns among critics who point to Trump's previous refusal to concede the 2020 election and his role in the January 6 Capitol incident.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has clarified the Constitutional limitations preventing Trump from pursuing a third presidential term without substantial legal changes. The discussion emerged after Trump expressed interest in extending his presidency beyond two terms during recent interviews, including his appearance on Meet the Press. While Rep. Andy Ogles has proposed a Constitutional amendment to accommodate this possibility, the required support from two-thirds of Congress and three-fourths of state legislatures makes such a change highly improbable in the current political landscape.
