On Thursday evening, January 23, a resolution was proposed by Representative Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) aimed at modifying the U.S. Constitution to facilitate a third term for President Donald Trump. Concurrently, Ogles also pushed for legislation authorizing Trump to negotiate the purchase of Greenland.
The proposed constitutional amendment by Representative Ogles intends to allow presidents to serve a maximum of three terms, with the stipulation that not more than two terms should be consecutive four-year periods. The intention is to amend the 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, which currently restricts presidents to a maximum of two terms.
According to a statement released to the press, Ogles praised Trump as the only recent figure capable of reversing America’s decline and restoring its greatness. He further argued that accomplishing such a task would require more time than currently allocated under the constitution.
The resolution proposed by Ogles states that “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.” The resolution retains current restrictions for those who have served over two years of another president’s term.
The 22nd Amendment came into effect in 1947 following Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s unique four-term presidency. Roosevelt passed away shortly after securing his fourth term during the 1944 election.
However, the proposed amendment faces significant obstacles. It requires the approval of two-thirds of both the House and Senate, and the ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures. Given the current Republican majority in the House and their lack of a two-thirds majority in the Senate, the chances of the resolution passing seem slim.
Trump had made remarks about a potential third term during a private speech to House Republicans last year. However, multiple sources present at the event, as reported by Fox News Digital, stated that the then-president-elect was speaking in jest.
After his 2024 election victory, Trump mentioned that a third term was not possible unless his supporters took action. He hinted that a future campaign would only be considered if people declared, “He’s so good, we have to just figure it out.”
Earlier this month, Ogles initiated the “Make Greenland Great Again Act,” which would allow Trump to discuss the purchase of Greenland with Denmark. “Joe Biden took a blowtorch to our reputation these past four years, and before even taking office, President Trump is telling the world that America First is back. American economic and security interests will no longer take a backseat, and House Republicans are ready to help President Trump deliver for the American people,” Ogles conveyed to Fox News Digital.
Trump’s interest in Greenland arises from its strategic importance to U.S. national security and its wealth of natural resources, especially rare earth metals. However, both Greenland and Denmark have unequivocally dismissed the notion of a sale.
The amendment proposal has been criticized by Democrats. A member of the House Judiciary Committee described it as “truly pathetic,” asserting that “2 terms is enough chaos for any nation to endure.”
The resolution has elicited mixed reactions among Trump’s supporters. While some are in favor of term limits for Congress, others are concerned that this change could potentially allow other former presidents to serve a third term as well.
