Alarmed Democrats file motion to reiterate that Trump can't run for third term

After President-elect Donald Trump suggested that he would be willing to serve an unconstitutional third term, Democratic lawmakers are seeking a resolution rejecting the idea. Trump alluded to running in the 2028 US Presidential election during his meeting with the House Republicans on Wednesday.

While the president-elect drew laughter from the Republican caucus for his remarks, Democrats took his words seriously. “I suspect I won’t be running again unless you say, ‘He’s so good we’ve got to figure something else out’,” said Trump during the meeting. On Wednesday, Dan Goldman, the New York Democratic congressman announced that he plans to file a motion to formalise what is already enshrined in the American Constitution.

It is pertinent to note that Trump would be barred from running again for office under the 22nd Amendment of the US Constitution, limiting a commander-in-chief to two four-year terms. The clause was approved by the US Congress back in 1947, two years after Franklin D Roosevelt’s four-term, 12-year presidency before and during the Second World War which only ended with his death.

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What does the motion say?

According to NBC News, Goldman’s motion features language highlighting the amendment “applies to two terms in the aggregate as president of the United States” and reaffirms that it “applies to President-elect Trump”. However, the motion is unlikely to receive a scheduled vote in the US House of Representatives, where Republicans still hold the majority.

Democrats could seek to introduce it as a “privilege motion” which would guarantee it a floor time in the House. Interestingly, the tool was previously used to force votes on the ousting of Republican former speaker Kevin McCarthy last year. The Congress also used the provision for the expulsion of fabulist former colleague George Santos from the House.

In July, Trump asserted that if he was re-elected in this month’s presidential election “you won’t have to vote any more. It’ll be fixed so good, you’re not going to have to”. Democrats went on to call the remarks “terrifying” and interpreted the statement as Trump saying there won’t be more elections after the 2024 race.

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In May, Trump once again hinted at considering a third term in office. ‘‘I don’t know, are we going to be considered three-term or two-term? Are we three-term or two-term if we win?’’, the business-mogul-turned politician said while addressing the National Rifle Association.

Despite deploying his allies in top brass Trump will still struggle to bring an amendment

It is pertinent to note that despite the Republicans having a majority in the Senate and House and Trump installing a conservative majority in the Supreme Court, the president-elect would face an almost insurmountable barrier to modify the term-limit rules and allow him to stand in a fourth consecutive election.

A proposal to introduce a constitutional amendment would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers, plus the approval of three-quarters of the states, either through their legislatures or at a constitutional convention.

The American Constitution has been amended only 27 times since it was first ratified in 1788. The last time the Constitution was amended was in 1992 with a measure which would prevent lawmakers from determining their own salaries.

With inputs from agencies.