Wild plan emerges to keep Trump in power

One of Donald Trump’s most influential backers has suggested a plan so egregious it even makes many of the President-elect’s own fans furious.

IN THE US
One of Donald Trump’s biggest cheerleaders has suggested he stand for a third presidential term – a move so radical that is not currently allowed in the US.

“Maybe we do it again in ‘28?” Steve Bannon told a Republican gala on Sunday, referring to the date of the next US election.

The suggestion that incoming president Mr Trump be able to serve for more than two terms excites some of his supporters, enrages others and terrifies his opponents who fear he may never want to leave the top job.

But Mr Trump, himself, has raised the prospect of remaining in office – although he has then often dismissed the possibility.

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Mr Bannon co-founded alt right news website Breitbart and was The White House’s chief strategist for a brief period in the first Trump administration. He was jailed for four months this year for contempt of Congress after he refused to appear before the House Select Committee investigating the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol Building.

Trump ally Steve Bannon has suggested Donald Trump could stand for another term. (Photo by Allison ROBBERT / POOL / AFP)

Bannon: ‘Again in ‘28?’

In New York on Sunday, Bannon addressed the state’s Young Republican Club’s annual gala.

During his speech he raised the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution.

“No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice,” he said, referring to the Amendment’s text.

He then mentioned Mr Trump’s impending inauguration.

“Donald John Trump is going to raise his hand on the King James Bible and take the oath of office, his third victory and his second term.”

By third term, Bannon is suggesting that Mr Trump won the 2020 election – when, in fact, Joe Biden defeated him.

He then mentioned Mike Davis, a lawyer and regular guest on Bannon’s War Room podcast, who was at one point was a potential contender for attorney general.

“And the viceroy Mike Davis tells me, since (the 22nd Amendment) doesn’t actually say ‘consecutive’, that, I don’t know, maybe we do it again in ‘28?

That is, that Mr Trump run in 2028 for a third stint in the Oval Office.

“Are you guys down for that? Trump ‘28?” he said to cheers from the crowd.

Bannon is no longer in Mr Trump’s inner circle. But he still has considerable fame and influence over MAGA Republicans.

Franklin D Roosevelt was US president for 16 years – which led to codified term limits. (FDR Library, 47-96 1783)

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As recently as this year, Donald Trump appeared to float just that idea.

“You know, FDR (President Franklin D Roosevelt) 16 years – almost 16 years – he was four terms,” he told the National Rifle Association annual meeting.

“I don’t know, are we going to be considered three-term? Or two-term?”

In 2018, Mr Trump said “maybe” he would give a third term “a shot someway”.

Mr Trump has in the past complained that his first term was marred by allegations into Russian interference into the election. In 2020, he said there should be a “re-do” of his first term.

Not everything Mr Trump says should be taken at face value, his supporters often say,

The 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951 precisely due to the 16 year presidency of Mr Roosevelt.

He died in office just months into his fourth consecutive term. The amendment was intended to stop a future abuse of power.

US political strategist Steve Bannon addresses the New York Young Republican Club’s Annual Gala in New York City on December 15, 2024. (Photo by Adam GRAY / AFP)

‘Isn’t remotely debatable’

Bannon’s claim that Mr Trump could run for a third term because the 22nd Amendment doesn’t contain the word “consecutive” has been rubbished by legal experts.

“The 22nd Amendment plainly says, ‘No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice,” law professor at Georgia State University Anthony Michael Kreis told Newsweek magazine.

“This isn’t remotely debatable.”

The most obvious way to enable Mr Trump to stand for more than two terms would be to change the US Constitution.

In 2020, a referendum in Russia changed its constitution to extend presidential term limits. That means Vladimir Putin could stay in power until the mid-2030s.

But doing so in the US isn’t easy.

For the Constitution to be amended it would have to be approved by two thirds of votes in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Three quarters of state legislatures would then also have to agree to the change.

Given the Republicans’ narrow hold on both the Reps and Senate it’s highly unlikely under the current Congress that any such change to the Constitution would pass.

‘Dreadful mistake’

Some on social media are open to Mr Trump remaining in office, despite that meaning he would be in power in his mid-eighties.

“It’s going to be eight glorious years,” said one.

But even MAGA diehards are sceptical.

“As a pretty devout conservative, I think this is a dreadful mistake and we need to stop promoting this idea,” said one on social media

“Conservatives need to speak against this, no matter how much we love Trump.”

At the Republican National Convention in July, where Donald Trump was nominated as the candidate, news.com.au canvassed Republicans on whether they to see Mr Trump stand for a third term.

The consensus was “no”.

“We have a Constitution and we follow it,” Judy Eckert, from Wisconsin, told news.com.au.

“Changing it is not gonna happen. That’s the bible of the country.”

Candice Bright from Arkansas was even more emphatic.

“No, no, no,” she said.

“That’s not in the Constitution and that is not what George Washington ever intended”.