On Thursday, January 23, a resolution was put forward by a congressman from Tennessee, aiming to alter the U.S. Constitution to allow President Donald Trump a third term in office. Simultaneously, the congressman is pushing for separate legislation that would enable Trump to negotiate the purchase of Greenland.
The proposed constitutional amendment was brought forward by Representative Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), allowing presidents to serve up to three terms, but not more than two sequential four-year terms. The goal of this resolution is to change the 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, which limits presidents to serving no more than two terms.
According to a statement released by Ogles to the press, he believes Trump is the only figure in recent history with the capability to stop the nation’s decline and restore America’s greatness, and he needs more time to accomplish this goal.
The resolution introduced by Ogles stipulates that “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times, nor be elected to any additional term after being elected to two consecutive terms”. It still upholds limitations on individuals who have served over two years of another president’s term.
The 22nd Amendment was first approved by Congress in 1947, following Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s unusual four terms in office. Roosevelt passed away shortly after winning his fourth term in the 1944 election.
The proposed amendment faces substantial challenges, necessitating approval from two-thirds of both the House and Senate, and then ratification from three-fourths of state legislatures. The resolution’s future seems uncertain, given the slim Republican majority in the House and the lack of a two-thirds majority in the Senate.
Trump had previously joked about serving a third term during a confidential speech to House Republicans last year, as confirmed by several sources who attended the event to Fox News Digital. A week after his 2024 election victory, Trump said he could not run for a third term unless his supporters did something about it. He suggested that a future campaign would only be contemplated if people said, “He’s so good, we have to just figure it out.”
Earlier this month, Ogles also presented the “Make Greenland Great Again Act,” which would allow Trump to start negotiations with Denmark concerning the purchase of Greenland. “Joe Biden took a blowtorch to our reputation these past four years, and before even taking office, President Trump is telling the world that America First is back. American economic and security interests will no longer take a backseat, and House Republicans are ready to help President Trump deliver for the American people,” Ogles told Fox News Digital.
Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland comes from its strategic significance for U.S. security and its abundant natural resources, particularly rare earth metals. However, the governments of both Greenland and Denmark have resolutely dismissed the idea of a sale.
Democrats have expressed criticism towards the amendment proposal. A member of the House Judiciary Committee described it as “truly pathetic” and stated that “2 terms is enough chaos for any nation to endure.”
The resolution has stirred mixed feelings among Trump supporters. Some would rather see term limits introduced for Congress, while others suggest that the change could potentially enable other former presidents to serve a third term as well.