Rep. Ogles Seeks 22nd Amendment Change to Allow Trump Third Term, Excluding Obama

Jan 24, 2025, 01:32 AM

Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) has introduced a House Joint Resolution to amend the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, allowing President Donald Trump to seek a third term in office. The proposed amendment would permit presidents who have served two non-consecutive terms to run for a third term, specifically enabling Trump, who began his second term in 2025, to run again. In November, Trump joked to House Republicans about seeking a third term, saying, "I suspect I won’t be running again, unless you do something." Ogles described Trump as "the only figure in modern history capable of reversing our nation’s decay," arguing that the 22nd Amendment limits the choice of the American people. The amendment 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." This specific wording would allow Trump to seek a third term but prevent former presidents who served two consecutive terms, such as Barack Obama, from running again. The proposal has sparked debate over term limits, the constitutional amendment process—which requires significant support in Congress and from the states—and the implications for American democracy.