As President Donald Trump hints at challenging the U.S. Constitution’s two-term limit, a new poll reveals that half of Americans believe he will attempt to run for a third term.
A YouGov survey of 2,900 U.S. adults on Tuesday found that 52% of respondents expect Trump to seek a third term. Meanwhile, 34% said they did not believe he would pursue this course, and 15% were undecided. When asked if Trump should be allowed to run for a third term, 63% of respondents opposed the idea, with only 24% in favor.
The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution clearly states that no individual can be elected to the office of President more than twice. This provision is widely understood to mean that a person cannot serve more than two terms in office, regardless of whether those terms are consecutive. However, some of Trump’s supporters argue that he could be eligible for a third run because his two terms were non-consecutive. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN) has even introduced a constitutional amendment to allow Trump to seek a third term.
At a White House event on February 20, Trump casually mentioned the possibility of running for president again, asking the crowd, “Should I run again?” while referencing the ongoing debate surrounding the prospect of a third term.
Representative Dan Goldman (D-NY) announced plans to introduce a resolution reaffirming the 22nd Amendment, according to The New York Times. Goldman condemned Trump’s repeated hints about serving beyond his constitutionally allowed second term, stating that while the media may dismiss it as a joke, Trump’s repeated suggestions that he could serve again have now become a defining part of Republican rhetoric.