US President Donald Trump, who is on his way to South Korea for the APEC summit, on Wednesday played down questions about a potential third term in the Oval Office, suggesting he has no intention of changing legislation that prevents him from running again.
In an interview with journalists, the 79-year-old man said that according to American law, he cannot run for a third term.
“If you read it, it’s pretty clear, I’m not allowed to run, it’s too bad,” the US president said on his way to South Korea.
On October 27, Trump was asked by reporters about the possibility of a third term, to which he replied, “I haven’t really thought about it. But I’m in the best polls I’ve ever had.”
Limited by the Constitution
Amid talk of a possible third term for Trump, US House Speaker Mike Johnson ruled it out on Tuesday, citing constitutional limitations.
“I don’t see a path to it,” Johnson said at his daily news conference at the U.S. Capitol. “He (Trump) and I talked about the limitations of the Constitution,” Johnson added.
Despite being loyal to Trump and one of his closest allies in Congress, Johnson added that his loyalty has legal limits.
“The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution does not allow for a third presidential term,” the Speaker of the House said, adding that it would take years to change the amendment.
Johnson dismissed further talk of a third term, making it clear that the Trump administration’s current focus is on delivering on its promises.
“We’re not going to take our foot off the gas pedal. We’ve got a great run ahead of us – we’re going to have four strong years,” the Speaker of the House said.
What is the 22nd Amendment?
The 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified on February 27, 1951, limits the number of times an individual can be elected to the office of President of the United States.
The amendment clearly states that “No person shall be elected to the office of President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President or has served as President for more than two years during a term during which another person was elected President shall not be elected to the office of President more than once.”
22nd Amendment proposed and ratified in response to the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt to an unprecedented four terms as President of the United States.
