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FILE — Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump watches a video screen at a campaign rally at the Salem Civic Center, in Salem, Va, Nov. 2, 2024 (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File).
A New York congressman is calling on the House of Representatives to reaffirm its support for the 22nd Amendment and its two-term limit for presidents of the United States — saying, “President Donald Trump’s repeated references to serving beyond his second term have unsurprisingly now become standard GOP orthodoxy” — in a newly reintroduced resolution.
“Seventy four years ago, the 22nd Amendment was ratified, ensuring America would never have a king,” Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) wrote on X Thursday after reintroducing the 22nd Amendment resolution, which he first floated last November. “As the House GOP supports Trump’s allusions to a third term, I’m reintroducing a resolution to reaffirm Congress’ support for the 22nd Amendment’s clear ban on another Trump term.”
Goldman has said that he’s looking to reaffirm Congress’ commitment to the constitution and its definition of how long a president can serve. The 22nd Amendment was first proposed in 1947 in response to Franklin D. Roosevelt serving four terms — from 1933 to his death in 1945 — and then ratified in 1951, marking its 74th anniversary on Thursday.
Goldman’s resolution cites numerous instances where Trump has talked about possibly running again and serving more than two terms.
“On February 20, 2025, President Trump told attendees of the Republican Governors Dinner about running for president in 2028: ‘And they tell me I’m not allowed to run. I’m not sure. Is that true? I’m not sure,”” the resolution points out.
“On January 27, 2025, President Trump told House Republicans at a retreat that ‘I’ve raised a lot of money for the next race that I assume I can’t use for myself, but I’m not 100% sure, because I don’t know. I think I’m not allowed to run again, I’m not sure. Am I allowed to run again, Mike (Speaker Mike Johnson)? I better not get you involved in that.’”
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Goldman has pointed out how many people believe Trump is just joking about running again, but he believes we’re closer than ever to the possibility. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), for instance, has already introduced legislation calling for a constitutional amendment to let Trump — and no other presidents — run for another term.
“President Trump’s decisive leadership stands in stark contrast to the chaos, suffering, and economic decline Americans have endured over the past four years,” Ogles said in a statement after introducing his House Joint Resolution last month. “He has proven himself to be the only figure in modern history capable of reversing our nation’s decay and restoring America to greatness, and he must be given the time necessary to accomplish that goal. To that end, I am proposing an amendment to the Constitution to revise the limitations imposed by the 22nd Amendment on presidential terms. This amendment would allow President Trump to serve three terms, ensuring that we can sustain the bold leadership our nation so desperately needs.”
Rep. Goldman’s office noted Thursday how his reintroduction of the 22nd Amendment resolution “follows the Republican Party’s rapid, full-throated support for Trump’s recent statements alluding to a third term.” Goldman said he believes the 22nd Amendment “enshrines a fundamental principle of our democracy” that should be protected by Congress.
“Yet, one political party has prioritized blind loyalty to a wannabe dictator over its duty to uphold our constitution,” Goldman concluded. “On the 74th anniversary of the 22nd Amendment’s ratification, I’m unfortunately forced to introduce a resolution simply reaffirming its plain meaning.”
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