Summary

Trump joked about running for a third term during a speech to House Republicans at a retreat in Florida, despite the two-term limit imposed by the 22nd Amendment.

His remarks drew laughter, but they come amid a proposal by Rep. Andy Ogles to amend the Constitution to allow Trump a third term, though the measure has not advanced.

Trump has made similar jokes before, calling it “fake news bait,” while GOP lawmakers like Sen. Mike Lee dismissed the possibility due to constitutional barriers.

  • dhork@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    That bill has zero chance of becoming an amendment in the normal process. It needs a 2/3 majority in each House, plus 3/4 of the states to sign on. So the text of the bill will never, ever be relevant.

    What has been happening instead is that Trump just ignores the law and Constitution when it suits him, and makes up some bullshit legal excuse, knowing that if it makes it up the SCOUTS he has stacked the deck there.

    At least the two most recent rulings (immunity and insurrection) had some legal nuance that justified attention from the SCOTUS, though. Any attempt by Trump to run again, without a Constitutional amendment allowing it, should be laughed out of court. But pay close attention to forthcoming rulings on birthright citizenship. That position is equally absurd, as Trump is relying on legal theories which pre-date the 14th Amendment, so they should no longer be valid. That is bound to end up at SCOTUS soon, and if they rule against Trump (or, more likely, let lower court rulings that it is batshit crazy stand), then there is some hope that SCOTUS will rein him when he tries to run again…

    I hope the Supreme Court funds its own personal security, though. If they do go against Trump on the citizenship stuff, Trump’s army of pardoned insurrectionists might stage another “peaceful protest”, and might determine the solution is to forcefully open up a few new seats…