Johnson, pressed on Trump 2028, points to Constitution: ‘No path’ to third term presidency
In a recent press conference, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., addressed speculation surrounding former President Donald Trump’s potential bid for a third term in 2028, firmly referencing the Constitution’s 22nd Amendment. This amendment, ratified in 1951, limits U.S. presidents to two elected terms, a rule established after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s unprecedented four-term presidency. Johnson emphasized that amending the Constitution is a complex and lengthy process, requiring two-thirds approval from both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states. He stated, “I don’t see a way to amend the Constitution because it takes about ten years,” indicating that he believes there is “no path” for Trump to pursue a third term. Johnson’s comments came shortly after he spoke with Trump, who he described as teasing Democrats with “Trump 2028” merchandise, suggesting that the former president’s comments are more about political banter than serious intentions.
Trump himself echoed Johnson’s sentiments when asked about the possibility of running for vice president in 2028 during a flight to Tokyo. He dismissed the idea as “too cute,” reinforcing the notion that the 22nd Amendment remains a significant barrier to any attempts at circumventing term limits. Johnson’s remarks also come amid ongoing discussions about a potential government shutdown, with the Speaker criticizing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for their handling of budget negotiations. He accused them of prioritizing partisan agendas over the needs of the American public and expressed frustration over the lack of progress in negotiations. Johnson remains focused on the present challenges of the Trump administration rather than hypothetical future scenarios, emphasizing the need for bipartisan cooperation to resolve the current budget impasse.
As the political landscape evolves, it is clear that both Johnson and Trump are keenly aware of the constitutional limitations surrounding presidential terms. While Trump continues to enjoy popularity among his base, the constitutional framework firmly restricts any attempts at a third presidential term. Johnson’s insights shed light on the complexities of American governance and the importance of adhering to established constitutional principles, especially in times of political turmoil.
Related articles:
– Link 1
– Link 2
Speaker of the House
Mike Johnson
, R-La., on Tuesday poured cold water on speculation that President
Donald Trump
could attempt a third term in 2028, citing the Constitution’s 22nd Amendment and saying he sees “no path” to changing it.
“There is the 22nd Amendment,” Johnson told reporters at the Capitol, adding that while Trump enjoys teasing Democrats with “Trump 2028” hats and slogans, the Constitution is clear.
“I don’t see a way to
amend the Constitution
because it takes about ten years,” Johnson said. “You’d need two-thirds of Congress and three-fourths of the states to ratify [it]. I don’t see the path for that.”
Johnson said he had spoken with Trump about an hour before the news conference, calling the president’s “2028” talk “trolling” aimed at opponents. “It’s one of the most popular hats ever produced, and it drives the Democrats crazy,” he said.
JOHNSON SENDS CRITICAL SIGNAL TO SCHUMER AS DEMS DIG IN ON GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CHAOS
The speaker’s comments follow Trump’s own remarks earlier this week appearing to rule out a constitutional workaround.
Asked Monday aboard Air Force One en route to Tokyo whether he might attempt a return as vice president in 2028, Trump laughed.
“I wouldn’t do that. I think it’s too cute,” Trump said. “Yeah, I would rule that out because it’s too cute.”
TRUMP ANSWERS QUESTION ON WHETHER HE’LL TRY TO RUN AGAIN
His dismissal echoed Johnson’s view that the 22nd Amendment remains an immovable barrier.
Ratified in 1951 after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four terms in office, the 22nd Amendment limits presidents to two elected terms. Amending it would require two-thirds approval in both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-quarters of the states. The ratification process, Johnson noted, typically takes a decade or longer.
Following his news conference, Johnson was pressed in the Capitol hallways by Fox News senior congressional correspondent
Chad Pergram
about the ongoing
government shutdown
, now approaching one month.
JOHNSON RAISES STAKES ON SCHUMER AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BARRELS INTO WEEK 3
“The president tried his best to negotiate with the
Democrat leaders
. They effectively gave him the middle finger in the Oval Office,” Johnson said. “This is a congressional problem.”
He argued that there was “nothing more for [Trump] to do,” noting that Republicans had already offered a “clean” continuing resolution. “Talking with [Democrats] and trying to negotiate is a waste of time,” Johnson said.
The speaker accused Senate Majority Leader
Chuck Schumer
, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., of clinging to a “long laundry list of crazy partisan spending priorities,” and said reopening the government would require “a few commonsense, centrist, moderate Democrats who care about the American people more than their political games.”
Johnson said he remains focused on the next three years of the Trump administration rather than hypothetical questions about 2028.
It remains to be seen whether any Trump allies formally propose a constitutional amendment, though Johnson insisted he sees no chance of success.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Johnson’s office for additional comment.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
