Did Trump Hint At Constitution-Breaking 3rd Term As President?

Washington: In a big remark made to House Republicans on Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump reportedly hinted at the possibility of serving a constitution-defying third term. Speaking to his supporters gathered at a hotel in downtown Washington just ahead of his second term, Trump playfully suggested he might be willing to run once more.

“I suspect I won’t be running again unless you say, ‘He’s good, we got to figure something else,’" Trump remarked, eliciting some laughter from the crowd.

For the unversed, the US Constitution, through the 22nd Amendment ratified in 1951, limits presidents to two elected terms. Overturning this restriction would require a constitutional amendment, which is a complex process needing the approval of two-thirds of both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states, according to Voice of America.  

Trump Meets Biden

Donald Trump made a victor’s return to Washington on Wednesday, visiting the White House for an Oval Office meeting with Democratic President Joe Biden and committing to a smooth transition of power as the Republican president-elect moves quickly to build out his new administration.

“Donald, congratulations,” Biden said, greeting Trump with a handshake and adding that he looked “forward to a smooth transition.”

Trump made a similar pledge and expressed thanks to Biden for the invitation — one that Trump himself had not extended to Biden after losing the 2020 election.

“Thank you very much," Trump said. "Politics is tough. And it’s, in many cases, not a very nice world. But it is a nice world today and I appreciate it very much.”

Trump, flying from Florida, arrived at a military base near the Capitol, meeting up with billionaire Elon Musk for a morning session with House Republicans as Trump prepares for a potentially unified Republican government and sweep of power.

Back in Washington for the first time since his election victory, Trump told the GOP lawmakers, “It’s nice to win.”

Trump received a standing ovation from House Republicans, many of whom took cellphone videos of him as ran through their party's victories up and down the ballot, in what would be, under the constitutional limits, his final presidential election.

This was not the first time Trump has returned to the Capitol area since the end of his first term. Congressional Republicans hosted Trump over the summer, as Trump was again solidifying his dominance over the party.

His latest visit comes as Republicans, who wrested the Senate majority from Democrats in last week's elections and are on the cusp of keeping GOP control of the House, are in the midst of their own leadership elections happening behind closed doors Wednesday.