Congressional Republicans are dismissing President Trump’s newest feedback about searching for a 3rd time period, downplaying them as a joke designed to needle the media even because the president insists he’s severe.
Trump has teased the concept of a 2028 bid for years, remarks that had been largely seen as an effort to mock his opponents. However his feedback over the weekend to NBC, which had been a few of his most expansive but on the subject, created new questions on his intentions regardless of the Structure’s clear language barring any such push.
Nonetheless, Republicans in Congress largely imagine his remarks had been simply one other barb aimed on the left.
“We’ve got this little problem that’s probably going to prevent that from happening. It’s called the Constitution,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) mentioned. “I think it’s more tongue-in-cheek than anything else.”
Others agreed.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) mentioned that Trump has a “great sense of humor.”
Senate Majority Chief John Thune (R-S.D.) mentioned he believes Trump is giving his opponents and the media a tough time.
“You guys keep asking the question and I think he’s probably having some fun with it,” Thune informed reporters on Monday. “[He’s] probably messing with you.”
Trump on Sunday informed NBC Information there are potential workarounds to permit him to serve a 3rd time period.
“A lot of people want me to do it,” Trump mentioned. “But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, it’s very early in the administration. … I’m focused on the current.”
When requested to make clear, Trump maintained that he was “not joking.”
Nonetheless, Republican leaders don’t look like taking Trump critically.
“There’s a lot of things the president talks about, ultimately, it gets people talking and addresses some other issues too,” Home Majority Chief Steve Scalise (R-La.) informed NBC Information within the Capitol on Monday when requested in regards to the third time period feedback.
Scalise added: “There’s no proposal to change the Constitution right now.”
Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) agreed.
“I think people are having fun with the topic and it’s really just a distraction from the mission right now,” he mentioned.
However there are Republicans making strikes to attempt to change the Structure.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) proposed a Constitutional modification in January that may enable Trump to hunt a 3rd time period. It was fastidiously worded to solely enable a president who has served two non-consecutive phrases to hunt a 3rd one, which might forestall former Presidents Obama and Bush from returning.
It’s extremely unlikely that the modification is adopted, as it could take assist from two-thirds of every chamber of Congress – that means important assist from Democrats – to advance, earlier than needing three-quarters of states to ratify the modification. However the decision might be used to construct assist for or encourage a 3rd time period concept that may be explored in different methods.
Ogles informed The Hill he was “thrilled” by Trump’s feedback. And whereas he doesn’t but have any cosponsors on the proposal, that might quickly change as Trump publicly entertains the concept.
“In the short time he has been in office, President Trump has demonstrated that he is the leader our country desperately needs to get us back on track,” Ogles mentioned. “I’m thrilled to hear the President say he is considering another run in 2028. I hope my colleagues in the House and Senate will join me in my legislative effort to make that a possibility.”
Advocacy to construct assist for a 3rd Trump time period is extending past the halls of Congress.
The Third Time period Mission – an initiative spearheaded by Republicans for Nationwide Renewal, which describes itself as a nationalist and populist group – plans to focus on native Republican social gathering organizations to undertake resolutions in stating assist for a constitutional modification, such because the one Ogles proposed, to permit Trump to hunt a 3rd time period.
The finished pattern decision obtained by The Hill “calls upon federal and state legislators to initiate appropriate constitutional amendment processes under Article V” to permit the president “up to three terms in office.” It frames the third time period push when it comes to “voter choice,” saying that “expanding voter choice strengthens American institutions while maintaining constitutional safeguards.”
The Third Time period Mission first made waves on the Conservative Political Motion Convention earlier this 12 months, handing out “Trump 2028” stickers and displaying a picture of Trump within the model of a Roman statue.
Trump alluded to methods aside from a Constitutional change to safe a 3rd time period, telling NBC that there are “methods which you could do it.”
Trump pointed to at least one the place Vice President Vance runs for the White Home and passes off the job to him – an concept that’s prohibited by the twelfth Modification.
“But there are others, too,” Trump added, declining to go any additional or record every other avenues.
Earlier than Trump’s feedback, Republicans virtually universally dismissed Trump’s repeated feedback about searching for one other time period in workplace as what they known as an apparent joke, saying it was unconstitutional for him to hunt one other place.
The concept that an modification vote would even come up is taken into account virtually preposterous on its face.
When requested if he would assist such an modification, Cornyn made clear he doesn’t assume he’d ever should weigh in.
“I doubt that it would ever come up,” he mentioned.
