House Democrats are set to introduce a resolution today aimed at clarifying that the U.S. Constitution’s two-term limit for presidents applies regardless of whether the terms are consecutive. The move comes in response to recent remarks by former President Donald Trump, who jokingly suggested to House Republicans that he might seek a third term, prompting concerns about the potential for ambiguity in the interpretation of the 22nd Amendment.
The resolution, spearheaded by Congressmember Daniel Goldman, seeks to definitively affirm that the constitutional ban on serving more than two terms applies even if a president’s two terms are non-consecutive. This clarification follows Trump’s lighthearted comments on Wednesday to House Republicans, where he said, “I suspect I won’t be running again unless you say, ‘He’s so good we’ve got to figure something else out.’”
The remarks were seen by some as a tongue-in-cheek suggestion of a third-term bid, which quickly stirred debate about the legal boundaries surrounding presidential term limits. Although the Constitution clearly states that no person shall be elected to the presidency more than twice, the new resolution aims to prevent any confusion over how non-consecutive terms might be interpreted.
Goldman’s resolution is expected to bring a swift end to any speculation about the possibility of Trump running for a third term, solidifying the two-term cap as an unambiguous constitutional rule. The move highlights growing concerns over the current political landscape, as both parties seek to address potential ambiguities regarding the U.S. presidency.
