Here’s how U.S. presidential term limits work as Trump prepares for return

Donald Trump volition instrumentality to the Oval Office successful conscionable 2 months and pursuing his re-election to a 2nd non-consecutive term, immoderate Americans took to societal media questioning if helium could tally again successful 2028.

The simplest reply is: No.

Under the 22nd amendment successful the U.S. constitution, which was ratified successful 1951, nary president tin service much than 2 presumption and those presumption don’t request to beryllium back-to-back.

“No idiosyncratic shall beryllium elected to the bureau of the President much than twice, and nary idiosyncratic who has held the bureau of President, oregon acted arsenic President, for much than 2 years of a word to which immoderate different idiosyncratic was elected President shall beryllium elected to the bureau of President much than once,” the authoritative substance of the amendment reads.

This means not lone tin Trump not tally again successful 4 years, but should circumstances originate successful which vice-president-elect JD Vance indispensable instrumentality implicit for Trump earlier January 2027, helium would lone beryllium capable to tally 1 much clip successful 2028.

However, if Vance were to instrumentality implicit aft the two-year people of Trump’s presidency, helium could tally successful 2028 and 2032.

“It prohibits anyone from being elected president much than 2 times. Donald Trump was elected successful 2016, helium was elected again the time earlier yesterday, helium cannot beryllium elected a 3rd time,” said Michael McConnell, a erstwhile U.S. circuit justice for the Court of Appeals and manager of the Constitutional Law Center astatine Stanford University.

“I deliberation determination (are) conscionable a batch of radical moving astir panicking. Well, this is 1 happening they bash not person to panic about.”

Presidents person held much than 2 presumption successful the past, with Franklin D. Roosevelt serving 4 presumption consecutively, from 1932 until his decease successful 1945.

But it was, successful part, Roosevelt’s aggregate presumption that led to the determination to bounds presidents from serving for much than 8 years successful total.

According to the Ronald Reagan Library, determination was interest successful Congress aft the Second World War ended successful 1945 — a twelvemonth aft Roosevelt was re-elected for his 4th word — astir enforcement overreach.

Term limits took effect six years aft Roosevelt’s decease successful 1945.

Trump has not said helium wants to enactment successful bureau indefinitely.

In fact, helium was asked Tuesday if 2024 would beryllium his past predetermination and told reporters helium “would deliberation so.”

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But immoderate connected societal media person expressed concerns Trump could instrumentality steps to region the third-term restriction, portion some Trump supporters similar Colorado Republican Lauren Boebert person said that “we indispensable rally down President Trump to unafraid his 3rd term.”

Changing the rule, however, would look a steep barrier.

Repealing oregon modifying the amendment would necessitate support from two-thirds of some houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of authorities legislatures.

For Trump, that would beryllium improbable arsenic though Democrats mislaid the Senate connected Tuesday, they inactive clasp astatine slightest 46 seats, preventing a two-thirds majority, and person won astatine slightest 190 seats successful the House of Representatives.

“I don’t deliberation it’s an existent superior proposal,” McConnell said.

“I besides deliberation it’s astir apt a mode to twit the different side. I mean if a Trump protagonist says, ‘Let’s amend the constitution truthful helium tin beryllium elected a 3rd time,’ and past idiosyncratic connected the different broadside goes, ‘no,’ you know, they spell each brainsick astir it. But successful fact, it’s each wholly silly.”

There person been suggestions by erstwhile presidents of some parties to marque a change, with Truman, a Democrat, describing it arsenic “stupid.”

Former Republican president Ronald Reagan said successful 1989 earlier leaving bureau that helium would propulsion for a repeal.

Congress has besides seen efforts to repeal the amendment since 1956, with 54 associated resolutions having been introduced.

So portion societal media whitethorn beryllium progressive with suggestions of it, McConnell said the chances of it happening are slim to none.